scholarly journals Safety Evaluation of Potential Toxic Metals Exposure from Street Foods Consumed in Mid-West Nigeria

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. C. Ekhator ◽  
N. A. Udowelle ◽  
S. Igbiri ◽  
R. N. Asomugha ◽  
Z. N. Igweze ◽  
...  

Objective. Street-vended foods offer numerous advantages to food security; nevertheless, the safety of street food should be considered. This study has investigated the level of potential toxic metal (Pb, Cd, Hg, Sb, Mn, and Al) contamination among street-vended foods in Benin City and Umunede. Methods. Twenty street food samples were purchased from vendors at bus stops. Metals were analyzed with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The methods developed by the US EPA were employed to evaluate the potential health risk of toxic metals. Results. The concentrations of the toxic metals in mg/kg were in the range of Pb (0.014–1.37), Cd (0.00–0.00017), Hg (0.00–0.00014), Sb (0.00–0.021), Mn (0.00–0.012), and Al (0.00–0.22). All the toxic metals except Pb were below permissible limit set by WHO, EU, and USEPA. The daily intake, hazard quotient, and hazard index of all toxic metals except for Pb in some street foods were below the tolerable daily intake and threshold value of 1, indicating an insignificant health risk. Total cancer risk was within the priority risk level of 1.0E-04 but higher than the acceptable risk level of 1E-06. Conclusion. Consumption of some of these street foods is of public health concern.


Author(s):  
Chaochen Ma ◽  
Miyuki Iwai-Shimada ◽  
Nozomi Tatsuta ◽  
Kunihiko Nakai ◽  
Tomohiko Isobe ◽  
...  

Toxic element pollution is a serious global health concern that has been attracting considerable research. In this study, we elucidated the major routes of exposure to three toxic elements (mercury, cadmium, and lead) and two essential elements (manganese and selenium) through diet, soil, house dust, and indoor air and assessed the potential health risks from these elements on women from the coastal area of Miyagi prefecture, Japan. Twenty-four-hour duplicate diet, house dust, soil, and indoor air samples were collected from 37 participants. Cd, Pb, Mn, and Se concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and Hg concentrations using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. We found that soil and house dust were the primary reservoirs of these elements. Diet contributed most strongly to the daily intake of these elements, with mean values of 0.72, 0.25, 0.054, 47, and 0.94 μg/kg/day for Hg, Cd, Pb, Mn, and Se, respectively. The mean hazard quotient of Hg was 1.53, indicating a high potential health risk from Hg exposure in daily lives. The intakes of other elements were below the tolerable limits. Future studies with a larger sample size are warranted to confirm our findings.



Author(s):  
Afshin Ebrahimi ◽  
Elaheh Karimpoor ◽  
Zahra Godazandehha ◽  
Zahra Heidari ◽  
Maryam Zarean ◽  
...  

Introduction: Exposure to mercury (Hg) by consumption of fish is a recent health concern. So, it is important to evaluate the health risks related to canned fish consumption. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential health risk based on Hg concentration in people who consumed canned fish with a probabilistic approach in Isfahan City, the central province in Iran. Materials and Methods: In this study, 20 popular brands of canned fish prepared in Iran and other countries were selected and analyzed for Hg concentration with atomic absorption spectrometer. The results were compared with the European Communities and JECFA guidelines. Then, a probabilistic method with Monte-Carlo simulation was used to assessment the Provisional Tolerable Daily Intake (PTDI) and the Hazard Quotient (HQ) for consumers in Isfahan City. Results: The average Hg concentrations in samples were 0.251 ± 0.204 and 0.189 ± 0.152 µg/g in canned fish of Iran and other countries, respectively. The Hg level was found below the guideline limit for European Communities and JECFA. The estimated PTDI was 0.037 µg person/day and HQ was 0.074. Conclusion: The results indicated that canned fish available in the markets of Iran did not have a health risk for adults. Moreover, canned fish consumption has a possible influence on the risk estimate and its risk should be assessed  for vulnerable groups.



Author(s):  
A. I. Yaradua ◽  
A. J. Alhassan ◽  
A. Nasir ◽  
K. I. Matazu ◽  
A. Usman ◽  
...  

This study was conducted to determine the heavy metals concentration in Hibiscus leaves cultivated in Katsina State Nigeria. The objectives were mainly to detect the presence of heavy metals in the cultivated Hibiscus leaves in the study area, compare the concentration of heavy metals in samples in relation to the permissible limits specified by WHO/FAO/USEPA Standards. Samples of cultivated Hibiscus leaves were collected in the year 2017 from the selected area.  Analysis for the concentration of these heavy metals; Cr, Cd, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn was conducted by the use of AAS (by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry) method. The health risks to the local inhabitants from the consumption of the samples were evaluated based on the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ). The possibility of cancer risks for the adult and children population through intake of carcinogenic heavy metals in the samples was estimated using the Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR). Results from this study shows that with the exception of Pb with mean concentration of (0.508-0.978), the mean concentration (mg/kg) range values of Cr (0.135-0.261), Cd (0.042-0.051), Fe (0.684-0.978) and Zn (1.048-1.208) in the samples were generally lower than the USEPA, WHO/FAO maximum permissive limits. The results have indicated that the estimated daily intake (EDI) of the heavy metals were lower than the tolerable daily intake limit set by the USEPA in both samples and the health risk index (HRI) for all the heavy metals were <1. The target hazard quotient (THQ) for the samples for both the adult and children population was in the decreasing order of Zn>Pb>Fe>Cr>Cd. ILCR for Cd is below the threshold risk limit (>10−5) and ILCR for Pb reached the moderate risk limit (>10−3) in all the studied samples in adults, While in children ILCR for both Pb and Cd in samples from Dabai, Daura, Funtua, Matazu and Zango for all samples have reached the moderate risk limit (>10−3), while the ILCR for Pb in samples from Birchi, Dutsinma, Kafur, Katsina and Malunfashi were beyond the moderate risk level (>10−2). The sampling area trend of risk for developing cancer as a result of consuming the studied samples showed: Funtua > Daura > Dutsinma > Katsina > Malunfashi > Matazu > Zango > Ingawa > Kafur > Dabai > Birchi for both adult and children, cumulative cancer risk (∑ILCR) of all the studied Hibiscus samples have reached the moderate risk limit (>10−3) in adult. While in children with the exception of the sample from Birchi, Dabai and Kafur which are within the moderate cancer risk (>10−3) limit, all other samples were beyond the moderate cancer risk (>10−2) limit. The study suggests that consumption of the studied samples in Katsina state is of public health concern as they may contribute to the population cancer burden. 



Author(s):  
O. A Omotoso

This study was carried out to establish health impacts of some trace elements (Al, As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in Asa-river, using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer technique for the chemical analysis. Laboratory results show that Al, Fe and Mn average concentrations are higher than prescribed limits unlike others. The Contamination Indexes reveal that the elements are heavily loaded in the water. The exposure dose in both adults and children ranges from 0.021 in As to 181 in Fe (in adults) and from 0.068 in As to 576 in Fe (in children). The average Hazard Quotient (HQ) values for adults and children are generally lower than one except Mn that has average value greater than one in both age groups. However, for children, individual HQ in Fe in some of the locations are >1. The Hazard Index (HI)for adults and children ranged from low to high. The average values of Chronic Daily Intake (CDI) are generally <1. However, in children, values for Fe in some locations are >1. The average Carcinogenic Risk (CR) of Cr and Pb computed for adults and children indicated that the values are greater than the risk limit of 10-6 and 10-4. This could result in potential health risk to the consumers. The sources of these trace elements are largely from various anthropogenic activities and slightly from weathering of rocks in the study area. It is recommended that adequate and well monitored precautions need to be taken to safeguard the health of the consumers especially the children with low immunity.



2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 56-63
Author(s):  
L.U Usman ◽  
R. Yerima

Ingestion of vegetables containing heavy metal is one of the main ways in which these elements enter the human body. Once entered, heavy metals are deposited in bone and fat tissues, overlapping noble minerals. Slowly released into the body, heavy metals can cause an array of diseases. This study aimed to assess the heavy metals residues in some vegetables and potential health risk among consumers within Katsina Metropolis. Six different vegetable samples comprising of cucumber (Cucumis sativus), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), red pepper (Piper nigrum) and tomato (Lycopersicum esculentus) were randomly collected from two main irrigation farmland located in Katsina Metropolis (Kofar sauri and Kofar marusa). Their level of toxic metals namely (Copper, Zinc, Cadmium, Chromium and Lead) were assessed using standard materials and methods. Results obtained were used to estimate the health risk of these heavy metals via consumption of the vegetable samples. The results from the study showed that the mean heavy metal concentration ranged between 1.10±0.00 mg/kg to 4.45±0.16 mg/kg, 1.78±0.07 mg/kg to 4.9±0.11 mg/kg, 0.02±0.00 mg/kg to 1.28±0.02 mg/kg, 1.51±0.02 mg/kg to 4.34±0.02 mg/kg and 1.05±0.01 mg/kg to 2.86±0.02 mg/kg for Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Pb respectively. The concentration of Cu and Zn were found to be below permissible limit while Cd, Cr and Pb concentration exceeded the permissible limit recommended by WHO/FAO. Health risks associated with the intake of these metals were evaluated in terms of estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI). EDI value of Cu and Zn were found to be below the maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI). The HQ of all the metals were >1, suggesting health hazards risk for the population. Moreover, HQ of Cd and Pb were greatly higher through consumption of cucumber, cabbage, lettuce and red pepper indicating significant health risks. HI was found to be higher >1 (3.32 mg/kg and 3.91 mg/kg) in adult and children respectively for consumption of spinach; however, it was much higher >1 (10.49 mg/kg and 12.4 mg/kg) in adult and children respectively for consumption of cabbage, suggesting more adverse health effects from cabbage consumption than spinach. The findings of this study shows the health risks associated with the consumption of heavy metals through the intake of some the selected vegetables within Katsina Metropolis, therefore, there is need for biomonitoring of these heavy metals in the vegetable because these are some of the main sources of food for humans in many parts of the world. Keywords: Heavy metal, Estimated Daily Intake, Hazard Quotient, Hazard Index, Consumption



2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1050-1060
Author(s):  
Chidinma C. Ezeofor ◽  
Janefrances N. Ihedioha ◽  
Oguejiofo T.Ujam ◽  
Nwachukwu R. Ekere ◽  
Charles O. Nwuche

AbstractThe potential toxic elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Fe, Cr, Cd, Mn and Hg) were accumulated from rice grains and soil from an Ugbawka farm, Enugu State, Nigeria, which were determined to evaluate the potential health risk to rice consumers. The mean levels of metals found in soil (mg/kg) were as follows: Ni (0.57±0.24), Pb (2.44±0.17), Zn (3.35±2.05), Cu (0.71±0.33), Mn (37.72±10.97), Fe (13 856.6±31.43), Cr (2.51±0.98), Cd (0.51±1.36), and Hg (0.02±0.38); however metals found in rice grains (mg/ kg) were: Ni (0.81±0.72), Pb (0.94±0.70), Zn (8.22±2.97), Cu (0.59±0.42), Mn (13.30±4.56), Fe (13.28±0.73), Cr (15.00±10.00), Cd (0.36±0.07), and Hg (0.002±0.23). A small percentage (2.5%) of the soil samples were above the Chinese Maximum Allowable Concentration for cadmium in soil while cadmium and lead levels in the rice grains were above WHO permissible limit. Pearson’s correlations showed significant correlations amongst some metal pairs in soil and grains showing similarity in origin. The estimated daily intake of Pb was higher than the safety levels given by JECFA. Hazard Quotient for Pb and Total Hazard Index of all the metals were above one. This indicates possible potential health risk and adverse effect resulting from consumption of rice from Ugbawka farm.



2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed E.M. Hassouna ◽  
Mohamed E. Goher ◽  
Seliem M. El-Sayed ◽  
Reda A.A.A. Hassan

Abstract The Bahr Yusuf Canal is the life artery of the Fayoum Province, which provides the province with two thirds of the freshwater quota from the Nile River. The present work was carried out to assess the suitability of water in the Bahr Yusuf Canal for various purposes and to assess the potential health risk associated with metal content. The results showed that the water quality of Bahr Yusuf was classified as poor and very poor for recreational use according to the Oregon WQI. On the other hand, the Aquatic Toxicity Index indicated the suitability of water for all fish species. The Canadian WQI and the Weighted Arithmetic WQI classified the canal water as good (WQI = 92), fair (WQI = 73) & marginal (WQI = 64) and excellent, poor to good & good to excellent for irrigation, drinking and aquatic life, respectively. Despite the significant contamination of water with heavy metals (as indicated by the Heavy Pollution Index, ranging from 104.44 to 206.32, from 16.81 to 38.48 and from 219.07 to 472.24 μg l−1), the Hazard Quotient (HQ) and the Hazard Index (HI) data indicate that water of Bahr Yusuf does not pose a human health risk through ingestion or dermal contact. In general, the study showed that water in the Bahr Yusuf Canal is characterized by different levels of pollution, which requires rapid and critical intervention by responsible authorities to prevent the discharge of different types of waste and further deterioration of the water quality during the lifetime of the channel and its subsequent rehabilitation.



Author(s):  
Deigna-Mockey Viviane ◽  
Biego Godi Henri ◽  
Nyamien Yves Bleouh ◽  
Adama Coulibaly

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the risk of exposure to pyrethrinoids and oragnophosphorus pesticides found in Côte d’Ivoire kola nuts. Study Design: Kola nuts samples were collected from farmers, collectors and urban stores in 3 regions (western, southwestern and eastern) and 2 big storage centers of Côte d’Ivoire. Place and Duration of Study: Health Department of Hydrology Health and Toxicology, Training and Research Unit of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, running 2017-2020. Methodology: Pyrethrinoids and organophosphorus residues were qualitatively and quantitatively determined using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem mass spectrometry Agilent 1290 Infinity II LC (LC-MS/MS) and their potential health risks assessed in kola nuts samples from selected regions of Côte d’Ivoire. Health risk estimates were analyzed using Estimated Average Daily Intake (EADI) and Hazard Index (HI) with risk categorized for non-carcinogenic health effects. Results: A total of 12 pyrethrinoids and 3 organophosphorus were identified and their residues were detected in all the kola nuts samples analyzed. The results showed that the mean concentration of organphosphorus in all kola nuts was 5±1 µg/kg FW. This level is the same observed for acrinathrin, delatmethrin, fenpropathrin, fenvelerate, flucythrinate, tau-fluvalinate, cyfluthrin et tefluthrin. As for the other pyrethrinoids, the values obtained are 17.2±6.2 µg/kg FW, 25±14.6 µg/kg FW, 30±11.3 µg/kg FW and 39.4±21.2 µg/kg FW, respectively for bifenthrin, cypermethrin, permethrin and cyhalothrin. The average contents determined for each active molecule are all lower than the MRLs fixed for these residues in the kola nuts. As a result, all the Estimate Average Daily Intake (EADIs) determined in adult Ivorians are lower than the corresponding Toxicological References Values (TRVs). Thus, the Hazard Quotient (HQ) calculated for each substance is less than 1. Conclusion: The risk of adverse effects from consuming kola nuts contaminated with residues of pyrethrinoids or organophosphorus is very unlikely.



Author(s):  
Wan-ce Shao ◽  
Yang-yang Zang ◽  
Hai-yao Ma ◽  
Ye Ling ◽  
Zhen-peng Kai

In the present study, a risk assessment of pesticides, phthalates and heavy metals in strawberries (n = 335) in recent years was conducted by determining the out estimate dietary intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) . 128 Pesticides, 18 phthalates and 3 heavy metals were determined in this determination. 51 pesticide residues were detected in the strawberry samples, and 97.91% samples had levels of at least one of the 51 pesticides above the LOD (limit of detection). 2.39% of samples had pesticides higher than the Chinese MRL. Multiple pesticides residues were detected in most samples. Bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) were detected in the strawberry samples with high frequency of detection. Their detectable rates were 100, 100 and 89.9%, respectively. Most of the samples were detected lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) with the detectable rates 75.76, 92.93 and 92.93%, respectively. Estimated daily intake of analyzed pesticide, phthalate and heavy metal residues appear to be relatively low compared to the ADI. The average THQs and HI were less than one. That means the customers who are exposed to the average contaminants levels may not pose significant health risk. Our results show that the strawberries may be polluted by many kinds of contaminants. Therefore, monitoring of pesticides, phthalates and heavy metal residues in strawberries should be increasingly developed in order to fully protect the health of the consumer.



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahong Zhang ◽  
Jiaqi Qin ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
Tongning Zhou ◽  
Ningchuan Feng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The berries of Lycium barbarum L. (Goji) are widely used as a Chinese traditional herbal medicine and functional food because of their reported beneficial pharmacological effects. However, there are reports of Goji berries being contaminated by chemical residues that could pose a hazard to humans. Methods: In this study, samples of L. barbarum L. berries were collected from plantations in a genuine production area and supermarkets in Ningxia, China. The major hazardous chemicals, including pesticides (dichlorvos, omethoate, cypermethrin, fenvalerate, malathion, and deltamethrin) and toxic metals (lead, cadmium, copper, nickel, zinc, and arsenic), were quantified by gas chromatography and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. In addition, associated daily exposures and health risks were determined using deterministic and probabilistic assessments. Results: The levels of five pesticides from the plantation samples were considerably lower than the maximum residue limits; only dichlorvos was detected in the supermarket samples, and deltamethrin was not detected in any samples. Copper, zinc, arsenic, lead, nickel and cadmium were detected in samples from both sources. The hazard quotient values of individual hazardous chemicals and the hazard index of combined hazardous chemicals were considerably less than 1, indicating the absence of a non-carcinogenic effect of hazardous chemical exposures through Goji berry consumption. The R value of arsenic was much less than 10-6, which shows that consumption of the Goji berries had no obvious carcinogenic risks. Conclusions: The potentially harmful effects of the L. barbarum L. are more likely from berries obtained from plantations than those from supermarkets, and heavy metal exposure is more dangerous than pesticide exposure. However, on the basis of our analysis, no population would be exposed hazardous chemicals exceeding existing standards, and the factors most affecting the health risk were exposure frequency and arsenic content.



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