scholarly journals Concentration of Elements in Food: How Can It Reflect Impact of Environmental and Other Influencing Factors?

Author(s):  
Zane Vincevica-Gaile ◽  
Maris Klavins

Abstract Element content of food is variable and can be influenced by different factors. The aim of the present study was to discover the linkage between macro- and microelement concentrations in food produced in Latvia, and possible impacts of environmental factors. More than 300 fresh food samples such as eggs, cottage cheese, honey, root vegetables, apple juice, apple wine were collected in the time period from 2009 to 2011. Samples were mineralised or analysed directly by appropriate method of quantitative analysis: atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Statistical analysis of data revealed that food elemental content can be influenced by sitespecific factors such as geographical origin, seasonality, environmental pollution.

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Nikolay Smagunov ◽  
Vladimir Tauson ◽  
Sergey Lipko ◽  
Dmitriy Babkin ◽  
Taisa Pastushkova ◽  
...  

Partitioning experiments were done by hydrothermal synthesis of crystals containing trace elements (TEs) by internal sampling of fluid at the temperature of 450 °C and pressure of 1 kbar. The crystal phases obtained were magnetite, hematite, and Ni-spinel, which were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The solutions from the sampler’s fluid probes were analysed by AAS for TEs included elements of the iron group plus aluminium. The highest co-crystallisation coefficients of TE and Fe between mineral and fluid (DTE/Fe) in magnetite were measured for V, Al, Ni and Cr (in decreasing order of n units in value), a lower value was observed for Co (2 × 10−1), and still lower values for Ti, Zn, and Mn (n × 10−2–10−3). In hematite, DTE/Fe values were highest for Al and V (order of n units in value), while lower values characterised Ti, Cr, and Co (n × 10−1–10−3), and the lowest values were exhibited by Cu, Mn, and Zn (n × 10−5). Copper was confirmed to be the most incompatible with all minerals studied; however, Cu had a high content on crystal surfaces. This surficial segregation contributes to the average TE concentration even when a thin layer of nonautonomous phase (NAP) is enriched in the element of interest. The accumulation of TEs on the surface of crystals increased bulk content 1–2 orders of magnitude above the content of structurally-bound elements even in coarse crystals. The inverse problem—evaluation of TE/Fe ratios in fluids involved in the formation of magnetite-containing deposits—revealed that the most abundant metals in fluids were Fe followed by Mn, Zn, and Cu, which comprised 10 to 30% of the total iron content.


Author(s):  
Georges-Ivo Ekosse ◽  
George Elambo Nkeng ◽  
Nenita Bukalo ◽  
Olaonipekun Oyebanjo

This study assessed the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of geophagic clays sold in some markets in Cameroon to ascertain their provenance, contamination status and human health risk. To achieve this, 40 samples from 13 markets in Cameroon were purchased and analysed using X-ray diffractometry, X-ray fluorescence and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for their mineralogy and geochemistry, respectively. The geophagic clays were dominantly made up of kaolinite and quartz. Their chemistry was dominated by SiO2, Al2O3 and LOI with means of 48.76 wt%, 32.12 wt% and 13.93 wt%, respectively. The major, trace and rare earth elements data showed that these geophagic clays were predominantly derived from felsic rocks. The contamination assessment indicated no enrichment of metals from anthropogenic sources, except for Zn in samples from Acacia, Madagascar and Mfoudi markets. The index of geo-accumulation indicated no contamination to moderate contamination of the clays. The non-carcinogenic index values for Fe, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were generally less than 1, suggesting no non-carcinogenic risk exposure to children and adults consuming the geophagic clays from these metals. The carcinogenic risk index (TCR) for Ni and Cr were above 10−6, which implies that children and adults are vulnerable to minimal carcinogenic health risk. The TCR values from Ni posed the highest risk, especially to children consuming clays from some markets.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1788-1795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olushola S. Ayanda ◽  
Olalekan S. Fatoki ◽  
Folahan A. Adekola ◽  
Bhekumusa J. Ximba

In this study, fly ash was obtained from Matla power station and the physicochemical properties investigated. The fly ash was characterized by x-ray fluorescence, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Surface area, particle size, ash and carbon contents, pH, and point of zero charge were also measured. The results showed that the fly ash is alkaline and consists mainly of mullite (Al6Si2O13) and quartz (SiO2). Highly toxic metals As, Sb, Cd, Cr, and Pb as well as metals that are essential to health in trace amounts were also present. The storage and disposal of coal fly ash can thus lead to the release of leached metals into soils, surface and ground waters, find way into the ecological systems and then cause harmful effect to man and its environments.


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