scholarly journals Dietary Metals (Pb, Cu, Cd, Zn) Exposure and Associated Health Risks in Baia Mare Area, Northwestern Romania

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (7) ◽  
pp. 580-592
Author(s):  
Mirela Miclean ◽  
Oana Cadar

This study estimated the non-carcinogenic health risk of Pb, Cu, Cd, Zn via dietary intake in the urban and rural areas of Baia Mare city, northwestern Romania, a former mining area. A total of 230 food items grouped in ten food categories (meat and animal organs, meat-derived products, animal fat, eggs, dairy, bread, corn flour, potato, vegetables, fruits) and 32 water samples were collected and analyzed for Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn using atomic absorption spectrometric method. The human health risk assessment through dietary exposure was evaluated by calculating the estimated daily intake of metals, the Target Hazard Quotients (THQ) and the Total Target Hazard Quotients (TTHQ) for normal daily consumption in adults. The average daily intakes of Pb, Cd and Zn were higher than the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) reference value for urban and rural residents, which showed that there was a potentially high risk of ingestion of food and water. The average daily intake of Cu with food and drinking water was lower than the corresponding TDI value, which indicated that Cu intake was not a potential hazard to the health of residents in the study areas. The individual target hazard quotients, calculated for food consumption in urban area decreased in the following order: Cd>Cu>Pb>Zn, and in rural area: Pb>Cd>Cu>Zn, having values higher than 1 for Pb and Cd in the rural area and approximately equal to 1 for Cd (urban) and Cu (rural), indicating non-carcinogenic adverse health effects. The TTHQs for the two areas (urban and rural) were 2.934 and 5.164, respectively, established cumulative adverse effects of metals. The results showed that vegetables, potato and bread were the main sources of metal intake from foodstuff for adults, but fruit, water and meat were secondary contributors.

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lies Teunen ◽  
Lieven Bervoets ◽  
Claude Belpaire ◽  
Maarten De Jonge ◽  
Thimo Groffen

Abstract Background Despite specific restrictions on their production and use, per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) are still omnipresent in the environment, including aquatic ecosystems. Most biomonitoring studies have investigated the PFAS concentrations in indigenous organisms, whereas active biomonitoring has only been used sporadically. In the present study, accumulated PFAS concentrations were measured in indigenous fish, European perch (Perca fluviatilis) and European eel (Anguilla anguilla), and in translocated freshwater mussels (Dreissena bugensis and Corbicula fluminea) at 44 sampling locations within the main water basins of Flanders, the northern part of Belgium. Finally, both human health risk and ecological risk were assessed based on accumulated concentrations in fish muscle. Results Among locations, ΣPFAS concentrations ranged from 8.56–157 ng/g ww (median: 22.4 ng/g ww) in mussels, 5.22–67.8 ng/g ww (median: 20.8 ng/g ww) in perch, and 5.73–68.8 ng/g ww (median: 22.1 ng/g ww) in eel. Concentrations of PFOA and PFTeDA were higher in mussels compared to fish, whereas for PFDA and PFUnDA the opposite was true. A comparison of concentrations on a wet weight basis between both fish species showed significantly higher PFDoDA, PFTrDA, PFTeDA and PFOA concentrations in eel compared to perch and significantly higher concentrations of PFDA and PFOS in perch. In mussels, PFAS profiles were dominated by PFOA and showed a higher relative contribution of short-chained PFAS, while PFAS profiles in fish were dominated by PFOS. Furthermore, all mussel species clearly occupied a lower trophic level than both fish species, based on a stable isotope analysis. Conclusions Biomagnification of PFDA, PFUnDA and PFOS and biodilution of PFOA and PFTeDA were observed. Translocated mussels have been proven suitable to determine which PFAS are present in indigenous fish, since similar PFAS profiles were measured in all biota. Finally, mean PFAS concentrations in fish did pose a human health risk for eel, although tolerable daily intake values for perch were close to the reported daily consumption rates in Belgium and exceeded them in highly contaminated locations. Based on the ecological risk of PFOS, the standard was exceeded at about half of the sampling locations (44% for perch and 58% for eel).


Author(s):  
Dan Nicolae Manea ◽  
Anişoara Aurelia Ienciu ◽  
Ramona Ştef ◽  
Iosefina Laura Şmuleac ◽  
Iosif Ion Gergen ◽  
...  

In this study, we conducted a noncarcinogenic risk assessment of consuming vegetables and fruits grown in two old mining areas from the Banat area of Southern Carpathians (Romania), Moldova Veche (M) and Rusca Montana (R) and in a nonpolluted reference area located near the village of Borlova (Ref). Concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd and Pb in soils and commonly eaten vegetables and fruits were measured and used for calculating the weighted estimated daily intake of metals (WEDIM), the target hazard quotients (THQ) and the total target hazard quotients (TTHQ) for normal daily consumption in adults. Levels of certain metals in soils and plants from the R area (Pb) and the M area (Cu) were higher than those measured in the Ref area—and often exceeded normal or even alert-threshold levels. TTHQs for the R area (1.60; 6.03) and the M area (1.11; 2.54) were above one for leafy vegetables and root vegetables, respectively, suggesting a major risk of adverse health effects for diets, including these vegetal foodstuffs. Moreover, THQ and TTHQ indicated a higher population health risk for the R area than for the M area, with the Ref area being a safe zone.


Author(s):  
Florin Dumitru BORA ◽  
Anamaria CĂLUGĂR ◽  
Claudiu Ioan BUNEA ◽  
Ionut RACZ

The primary objectives of this research were to determine the concentration of some inorganic trace components, to evaluate the concentration levels of these in Romanian wines by daily consumption of wine and the health risk of inorganic trace components intake at these rates form Romanian wine. The results indicated that the concentration levels of inorganic components in red wine decreased in the order Zn>Mn>Cr>Cu>Ni>Pb>Co>Cd, in case of white wine decreased in the order Zn>Mn>Cu>Cr>Ni>Pb>Co>Cd. Based on a 60-kilogram adult person, and moderate consumption of 200 milliliters of wine/day, the estimated daily intake of these inorganic components from wines was well below the daily allowance. The target hazard quotient suggests that the exposed humans would not experience significant health risks when ingesting these individual elements from daily consumption of 200 milliliters of Romanian wines/day.


Author(s):  
Agnieszka Gruszecka-Kosowska

Potentially harmful element (PHE) contents were investigated in six species of cereals in southern Poland, with human health risk implications assessed afterwards. The PHE contents belonged to the following ranges (mg/kg wet weight): As below the limit of detection (<LOD)–0.013, Cd <LOD–0.291, Co <LOD–0.012, Cu 0.002–11.0, Hg <LOD–0.080, Ni <LOD–8.40, Pb <LOD–12.0, Sb <LOD–0.430, Tl <LOD–0.160, and Zn 5.47–67.7. The Pb and Cd contents exceeded the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) values for wheat, oat, rye, and barley in the Śląskie region. The bioaccumulation coefficient (BA) for the total PHE content in the soil indicated that cereals had no potential of PHE accumulation. Regarding the statistical daily consumption of cereals, the PHE intake rates, expressed as a percentage of permissible maximum total daily intake (% PMTDI), were the following: As 0.0003, Cd 0.193, Co 0.0003, Cu 0.075, Hg 0.424, Ni 3.94, Pb 3.16, Sb 0.23, Tl 0.27, and Zn 0.44. The total non-carcinogenic risk values (HQ) exceeded the target risk value of 1 for wheat (HQ = 13.3) and rye (HQ = 3.44). For other cereals, the total non-carcinogenic risk values decreased in the following order: barley (HQ = 0.47) > oat (HQ = 0.38) > maize (HQ = 0.02). The total non-carcinogenic risk value of the statistical daily consumption of cereals was acceptable low (HQ = 0.58). The acceptable cancer risk (CR) level of 1.0 × 10−5 investigated only for As was not exceeded under any of the intake scenarios. Concerning the mean As content in cereals consumed daily in statistical amounts the CR value was equal to 5.1 × 10−8. The health risk value according to the Pb content in cereals using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach was equal to 1.27, indicating an acceptable low risk.


Author(s):  
Patricia Rojas ◽  
Elizabeth Ruiz-Sánchez ◽  
Camilo Ríos ◽  
Ángel Ruiz-Chow ◽  
Aldo A. Reséndiz-Albor

The use of the medicinal plant Ginkgo biloba has increased worldwide. However, G. biloba is capable of assimilating both essential and toxic metals, and the ingestion of contaminated products can cause damage to health. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) in 26 items containing Ginkgo biloba (pharmaceutical herbal products, dietary supplements, and traditional herbal remedies) purchased in the metropolitan area of Mexico City. Metal analysis was performed using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. All of the products were contaminated with Pb, 54% of them with As, and 81% with Cd. The lowest values of Pb, As, and Cd were detected in pharmaceutical herbal products > dietary supplements > traditional herbal remedies. The daily intake dose (DID) of pharmaceutical herbal products was within the established limits for the five metals. Dietary supplements and traditional herbal remedies exceeded the DID limits for Pb. The hazard quotients estimation and non-carcinogenic cumulative hazard estimation index for Mn, As, and Cd indicated no human health risk. Our results suggest that products containing G. biloba for sale in Mexico are not a health risk.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasneem Sarwar ◽  
Sardar Khan ◽  
Said Muhammad ◽  
Javed Nawab ◽  
Shehla Amin ◽  
...  

Abstract Arsenic (As) is one of the toxic metalloids therefore can cause health risk in the consumers through consumption of contaminated food and rice. The current study focused on As speciation in rice, bioavailability, mechanisms and its potential human health risk. For this purpose, rice and soil samples were collected from 16 different districts (non-mining and mining) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan). Soil physicochemical characteristic such as texture, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), pH, iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) were determined. Total arsenic (AsT) concentrations were analyzed using ICP-MS, while the arsenite (As3+), arsenate (As5+), arsenobetine (BAs), dimethylarsenic (DMA) and monomethyl arsenic (MMA) were determined by HPLC–ICP-MS method. Results showed the highest AsT (0.28 mg/kg) was observed in the rice samples of DI Khan District and lowest (0.06 mg/kg) in Shangla District. However, these findings were found within the permissible limits set by various authorities. Furthermore, results showed higher concentrations of inorganic As (Asi) than organic As (Aso) species in rice. The estimated daily intake (EDI) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILTCR) were used to evaluate the potential human health risk for As consumption in rice. Results revealed that the rice samples collected from the district having mining activities had higher value of As (0.28 mg/kg of AsT) as compared to non-mining (0.072 mg/kg of AsT). The highest ILTCR value (0.00196) was observed for rice collected from mining districts. This study revealed that mining activities have great influence on the As contamination of soil and grown rice. This study recommends the soil amendment in districts having mining activities to lower As availability in soil and its bioaccumulation in growing rice that will help to keep lower the potential risk.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uchechi Bliss Onyedikachi ◽  
Donatus Chuka Belonwu ◽  
Mattew Owhonda Wegwu

Abstract In view of ensuring healthy agricultural foods for human consumption, this study assessed the human health risk implicated in selected heavy metals in some commonly consumed vegetables, tubers, nuts and fruits grown around the quarry sites at Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Samples from agriculture area of Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria, constituted the control. The concentration of Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu, Cd, and Pb, were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. The potential non-carcinogenic health risk for consumers which included Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and Target Hazard Quotients (THQ) for Pb, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cd and Cu while carcinogenic health risk using Cancer Slope Factors (CSF) was established for Cd and Pb. Relative abundance of heavy metals across the locations and all samples was in the order Fe > Mn > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd. There was statistical significant effect of quarrying activities on the concentration of the heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd) at p < 0.05 level. Based on the observed bioconcentration factors, cassava showed more hyperaccumulation potential compared to other samples. Pumpkin and bitter leaf also could be used in remediation owing to their high bioaccumulation index for Pb and Zn. THQ obtained for Mn and Pb were >1 indicating that the residents at the quarry site may be exposed to potential non-carcinogenic health risk due to Mn and Pb intoxication. With respect to US EPA prescriptions, average carcinogenic risk values obtained for Pb and Cd in this study indicated a lifetime (70 years) probability of contracting cancer suggesting that they be placed for further consideration as chemicals of concern with respect to the assessed locals.


Author(s):  
Agnieszka Gruszecka-Kosowska

The presence of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in popularly consumed fruits in Poland was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, Sb, Tl, and Zn contents were investigated in 21 fruit species grouped as berry, pome, stone, and shell fruits. The PHE contents belonged to the following ranges (mg/kg wet weight): Cd < limit of detection (LOD)–0.116, Co < LOD–0.062, Cu < LOD–15.5, Ni < LOD–2.23, Pb < LOD–2.07, Sb < LOD–0.240, Tl < LOD–0.110, and Zn 0.37–37.7. Their concentrations exceeded the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) set by European Union regulation for Pb only. Bioconcentration coefficient (BC) values, calculated in accordance to the PHE contents in exchangeable and acid soluble forms in soil after first step of the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction procedure, revealed that berry fruits had potential for accumulation of Cu, Ni, Sb, and Tl; stone fruits—Cu, Sb, and Tl; pome fruits—Cu, Ni, and Sb, and shell fruit (walnut)—Cu. Human health risk assessment associated with the intake of PHEs in fruits was evaluated in terms of daily intake rates (DIR), and carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk by cancer risk (CR) and hazard quotient (HQ), respectively. For Pb margin of exposure (MOE) approach was used for health risk evaluation. Daily intake rates for all PHEs were below the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) values. The mean total non-carcinogenic risk values were the following: berry fruits HQ = 0.47, pome fruits HQ = 0.36, stone fruits HQ = 0.42, and shell fruits (walnut) HQ = 0.22, indicating no health hazards. The carcinogenic risk for As in walnut only under an adult intake scenario (CR = 1.98 × 10−6) was found to be above the acceptable risk level. The mean Pb health risk, according to Polish statistical intake rates, was acceptable low as the MOE value was equal to 15.7 for adults. In reference to the intake rates recommended by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), MOE values for Pb indicated acceptable low risk both for adults (MOE = 14.0) and children (MOE = 1.64). In general, the finding of this research revealed no health risk arising from PHE consumption with fruits for the population of Poland.


2014 ◽  
Vol 644-650 ◽  
pp. 5183-5187
Author(s):  
Wan Jun Fu ◽  
Gui Lan Ma

119vegetable samples were collected from Jiutai County vegetable production base, and Pb concentrations were measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GF-AAS). Results showed that the average Pb of vegetable was 0.05 mg·kg-1fresh weight, with only 1.5% above the Safety Requirements. Single-factor contaminant index was utilized for assessment. It was found that vegetable Pb order as following: leaf vegetables>fruit vegetables, dark vegetables>light vegetables. The average daily intake (DI) Pb of per standard person was urban 18.6 ug•d-1and rural 16.7 ug•d-1, as well as economical family 19.1 ug•d-1and poor16.3 ug•d-1, indicating that vegetable Pb in Jiutai County were safety. The Pb health risk was assessed based on the target hazard quotients (THQ). The study showed that THQurban=THQhigh>THQmedium>THQlow=THQrural, indicating the health risk via vegetable consumption in rural was relative lower than that in unban area. Assessment results proved that the vegetables Pb in this area is no health risk to persons.


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