مجله علوم و صنایع غذایی ایران

مجله علوم و صنایع غذایی ایران

A Survey of Heavy Metal Levels in Some Plant-Based Foods and Their Human Health Risk Assessment: Findings from Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, Iran.

نوع مقاله : پژوهشی اصیل

نویسندگان
Amin Kamali
سیاوش مکتبی
Maryam Shirani
Saadat Rastegarzadeh
10.48311/fsct.2025.115653.0
چکیده
Heavy metals in Khuzestan's wastewater threaten crops and health, especially in Ahvaz, a key agricultural and industrial area. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of trace metals in various plant-based foods from Ahvaz City, Iran. A total of 72 food samples were collected from various markets in Ahvaz to analyze trace metal levels, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). Samples were digested using 10% nitric acid, and heavy metal analysis was performed with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI) were used to assess the combined risks from multiple pollutants. The safety assessment was based on the permissible limits established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The trace metal levels in sesame reached up to 0.99 µg g-1 for Pb, with low levels of As and Cr. The THQ for Cr indicated potential health risks, but other metals were deemed safe. No heavy metals were found in date palms, and HQ and HI values suggested no risk. Cucumbers and rice also showed low heavy metal levels, with THQs and HIs below one, indicating safety. Wheat had Pb levels of 0.429 µg g-1, raising concerns, while tomatoes had low As levels (0.026 µg g-1), suggesting overall safety in consumption. Most samples exhibited low levels of heavy metals; however, the elevated concentrations of Pb and Cr in wheat highlight the need for continuous monitoring to ensure consumer safety. In conclusion, although most food items contained acceptable levels of heavy metals, the findings in wheat underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance to protect public health.

 
کلیدواژه‌ها
Food Safety
ICP-OES
Agricultural Products
Pollution
Health Risks
Heavy metal

موضوعات

عنوان مقاله English

A Survey of Heavy Metal Levels in Some Plant-Based Foods and Their Human Health Risk Assessment: Findings from Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, Iran.

نویسندگان English

Amin Kamali
Siavash Mktabi
Maryam Shirani
Saadat Rastegarzadeh
چکیده English

Heavy metals in Khuzestan's wastewater threaten crops and health, especially in Ahvaz, a key agricultural and industrial area. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of trace metals in various plant-based foods from Ahvaz City, Iran. A total of 72 food samples were collected from various markets in Ahvaz to analyze trace metal levels, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). Samples were digested using 10% nitric acid, and heavy metal analysis was performed with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI) were used to assess the combined risks from multiple pollutants. The safety assessment was based on the permissible limits established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The trace metal levels in sesame reached up to 0.99 µg g-1 for Pb, with low levels of As and Cr. The THQ for Cr indicated potential health risks, but other metals were deemed safe. No heavy metals were found in date palms, and HQ and HI values suggested no risk. Cucumbers and rice also showed low heavy metal levels, with THQs and HIs below one, indicating safety. Wheat had Pb levels of 0.429 µg g-1, raising concerns, while tomatoes had low As levels (0.026 µg g-1), suggesting overall safety in consumption. Most samples exhibited low levels of heavy metals; however, the elevated concentrations of Pb and Cr in wheat highlight the need for continuous monitoring to ensure consumer safety. In conclusion, although most food items contained acceptable levels of heavy metals, the findings in wheat underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance to protect public health.

 

کلیدواژه‌ها English

Food Safety
ICP-OES
Agricultural Products
Pollution
Health Risks
Heavy metal
[1]    Shirani, K., et al., Determination of methanol in Iranian herbal distillates. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, 2016. 13(2): p. 123-127.
[2]    Yousefsani, B.S., et al., Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin Against Food Contaminants, in Natural Products and Human Diseases: Pharmacology, Molecular Targets, and Therapeutic Benefits, A. Sahebkar and T. Sathyapalan, Editors. 2021, Springer International Publishing: Cham. p. 171-197.
[3]    Rai, P.K., et al., Heavy metals in food crops: Health risks, fate, mechanisms, and management. Environment International, 2019. 125: p. 365-385.
[4]    Jaishankar, M., et al., Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip Toxicol, 2014. 7(2): p. 60-72.
[5]    Mawari, G., et al., Heavy Metal Accumulation in Fruits and Vegetables and Human Health Risk Assessment: Findings From Maharashtra, India. Environ Health Insights, 2022. 16: p. 11786302221119151.
[6]    Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2020. Toxicological Profile for Lead. Atlanta, G.U.S.D.o.H.a.H.S., Public Health Service.
[7]    Kumar, D., et al., Lead Toxicity: Health Hazards, Influence on Food Chain, and Sustainable Remediation Approaches. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020. 17: p. 2179.
[8]    Pan, X.D. and J.L. Han, Distribution of Cadmium in Fresh Vegetables Marketed in Southeast China and Its Dietary Exposure Assessment. Foods, 2023. 12(6).
[9]    De Francisco, P., et al., Interactions with Arsenic: Mechanisms of Toxicity and Cellular Resistance in Eukaryotic Microorganisms. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021. 18(22).
[10] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Arsenic: Standards and regulations. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/arsenic/standards.html].
[11] McNutt, M., Mercury and health. 2013, American Association for the Advancement of Science. p. 1430-1430.
[12] Ssenku, J.E., et al., Mercury Accumulation in Food Crops and Phytoremediation Potential of Wild Plants Thriving in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Areas in Uganda. Pollutants, 2023. 3(2): p. 181-196.
[13] Zeinali, T., F. Salmani, and K. Naseri, Dietary intake of cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead through the consumption of meat, liver, and kidney and assessment of human health risk in Birjand, Southeast of Iran. Biological trace element research, 2019. 191: p. 338-347.
[14] Nikkhah, E., et al., Protective effects of taurine against hepatotoxicity induced by pharmaceuticals and environmental chemicals. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, 2021. 103(1): p. 56-84.
[15] Kolawole, S., R. Ukwede, and N. Igwemmar, Assessment of heavy metals in tomatoes, green beans and some vegetables on road side farms in Farin-Lamba, Jos South Local Government Area Plateau State, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 2022. 26(10): p. 1695-1698.
[16] Neisi, A., et al., Identifying and counting zooplanktons and crustaceans in water of Karun River, Ahvaz city, Iran. Sustainable Water Resources Management, 2019. 5.
[17] BAGHERIAN, M.M., et al., Evaluation of Karun river water quality scenarios using simulation model results. 2014.
[18] Mansouri Moghadam, S., et al., Level of heavy metals and environmental pollution index in Ahvaz, Southwest Iran. Scientific Reports, 2024. 14(1): p. 14754.
[19] Kolahkaj, M. and s. battalebloie, Health Risk of Cadmium and Lead in the Rice Cultivated in Meydavood, Khoozestan Province, Iran. Journal of Health Research, 2018. 4: p. 39-46.
[20] Mansouri Moghadam, S., et al., Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Wheat Farms in the Northern Regions of Ahvaz. Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research, 2022. 10(4): p. 291-304.
[21] Ghalhari, M.R., et al., Analyzing heavy metal contamination for one of the high-rate consumption fruits in Iran: A probabilistic health risk assessment. Heliyon, 2024. 10(9).
[22] Fathi, M.R., N. Pourreza, and Z. Ardan, Determination of aluminum in food samples after preconcentration as aluminon complex on microcrystalline naphthalene by spectrophotometry. Química Nova, 2011. 34: p. 404-407.
[23] Jorhem, L. and C.A.G.C.G.D.H.G.K.H.G.J.K.K.K.L.B.L.J.M.M.O.A.P.S.S.B.U.B.W. T, Determination of metals in foods by atomic absorption spectrometry after dry ashing: NMKL1 collaborative study. Journal of AOAC International, 2000. 83(5): p. 1204-1211.
[24] Uhrovčík, J., Strategy for determination of LOD and LOQ values–Some basic aspects. Talanta, 2014. 119: p. 178-180.
[25] Shirani, K., et al., Concentration of heavy metals in Iranian market rice and associated population health risk. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods, 2017. 9(3): p. 249-254.
[26] Tamirat, F., et al., Determination of major and trace metals in date palm fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) samples using flame atomic absorption spectrometry and assessment of the associated public health risks. International Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 2024. 2024(1): p. 9914300.
[27] Eghbaljoo-Gharehgheshlaghi, H., et al., The concentration and probabilistic health risk assessment of trace metals in three type of sesame seeds using ICP-OES in Iran. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 2022. 102(17): p. 5936-5950.
[28] Rezvani Ghalhari, M., et al., Analyzing heavy metal contamination for one of the high-rate consumption fruits in Iran: A probabilistic health risk assessment. Heliyon, 2024. 10(9): p. e30392.
[29] Nejabat, M., et al., Health risk assessment of heavy metals via dietary intake of wheat in Golestan Province, Iran. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 2017. 23(5): p. 1193-1201.
[30] Wong, C., S.M. Roberts, and I.N. Saab, Review of regulatory reference values and background levels for heavy metals in the human diet. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2022. 130: p. 105122.
[31] Mohamed, H., P.I. Haris, and E.I. Brima, Estimated dietary intakes of toxic elements from four staple foods in Najran city, Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2017. 14(12): p. 1575.
[32] Wei, P., et al., Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.): A Comprehensive Review of Nutritional Value, Phytochemical Composition, Health Benefits, Development of Food, and Industrial Applications. Nutrients, 2022. 14(19).
[33] Bolaños, D., E.J. Marchevsky, and J.M. Camiña, Elemental analysis of amaranth, chia, sesame, linen, and quinoa seeds by ICP-OES: assessment of classification by chemometrics. Food Analytical Methods, 2016. 9: p. 477-484.
[34] Abu-Almaaly, R.A., Estimate the contamination by some heavy metals in sesame seeds and Rashi product that available in local markets. Plant Archives (09725210), 2019. 19(2).
[35] Gebrekidan, A. and A.A. Desta, Assessment on the levels of selected essential and non-essential metals in sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum L.) collected from Sheraro town, Northwest Tigray, Ethiopia. Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Ethiopia, 2019. 33(2): p. 191-202.
[36] Muazu, I., et al., Assessment of some heavy metals in lettuce, Sesame and Okra irrigated from the bank of Challawa river Kano, Nigeria. Oriental Journal of Chemistry, 2010. 26(4): p. 1299.
[37] Eghbaljoo Gharehgheshlaghi, H., et al., The concentration and probabilistic health risk assessment of trace metals in three type of sesame seeds using ICP- OES in Iran. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 2020. 102: p. 1-15.
[38] Edalatian, M. and A. Fazlara, Evaluation of microbial characteristics of Stamaran cultivar dates during storage in 1384. 2008.
[39] Kaikhaee Dehdezi, N. and K. Shams, Determination of amount of heavy metal in the fruit dates in the local market of Ahwaz city. Iranian Journal of Biological Sciences, 2018. 13(1): p. 19-27.
[40] Zafarzadeh, A. and H. Rahimzadeh, Concentration of cadmium, lead, zinc and copper in the cucumber and tomatoe in Northern Iran. Journal of Gorgan University of Medical Sciences, 2015. 17(1): p. 77-83.
[41] Jafarian-Dehkordi, A. and M. Alehashem, Heavy metal contamination of vegetables in Isfahan, Iran. Research in pharmaceutical sciences, 2013. 8(1): p. 51.
[42] Sharafati Chaleshtori, F., M. Rafieian Kopaei, and R. Sharafati Chaleshtori, A review of heavy metals in rice (Oryza sativa) of Iran. Toxin reviews, 2017. 36(2): p. 147-153.
[43] Kianpoor, S. and S. Sobhanardakani, Evaluation of zn, pb, cd and cu concentrations in wheat and bread consumed in hamedan city. 2018.
[44] Esmaili, A., et al., Data on heavy metal levels (Cd, Co, and Cu) in wheat grains cultured in Dashtestan County, Iran. Data in brief, 2017. 14: p. 543-547.
[45] Makki, F.M. and P. Ziarati, Determination of histamine and heavy metal concentrations in tomato pastes and fresh tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) in Iran. Biosci. Biotechnol. Res. Asia, 2014. 11(2): p. 537-544.
[46] Saleh, J., Y. Hosseini, and I. Saleh, Evaluation of Chromium Contamination in Tomato Farms (Case study: Western Hormozgan Province). Journal Of Agroecology, 2021. 13(3): p. 507-517.