Potential Human Health Risks Assessment through Determination of Heavy Metal Contents in Regularly Consumed Yogurts in Bangladesh

This study estimated the concentrations of heavy metals in regularly consumed sour, sweet and homemade traditional yogurts in Bangladesh. A total of 300 yogurt samples (sour, sweet and homemade traditional); 100 yogurt samples of each category were considered for this assay. To assess the health risks, the daily yogurt consumption rate and the value of target carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of these yogurt samples were also determined. In sour yogurt samples, detected heavy metal contents were 0.398±0.121 mg/kg, 0.774±0.372 mg/kg, 0.087±0.021 mg/kg, 0.131±0.026 mg/kg, 0.011±0.006 mg/kg, 0.031±0.005 mg/kg, 0.445±0.267 mg/kg and 0.029±0.024 mg/kg while in sweet yogurt samples, detected heavy metal contents were 0.410±0.146 mg/kg, 0.704±0.324 mg/kg, 0.082±0.028 mg/kg, 0.146±0.025 mg/kg, 0.010±0.005 mg/kg, 0.030±0.007 mg/kg, 0.460±0.265 mg/kg, and 0.035±0.026 mg/kg and in homemade traditional yogurt samples, detected heavy metal contents were 0.410±0.147 mg/kg, 1.502±0.367 mg/kg, 0.085±0.020 mg/kg, 0.120±0.024 mg/kg, 0.011±0.005 mg/kg, 0.020±0.005 mg/kg, 0.251±0.174 mg/kg and 0.025±0.021 mg/Kg for Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr) and Arsenic (As) respectively. Among the analyzed heavy metals, highest concentration of Cu and lowest concentration of Pb was detected in all yogurt types. The values of estimated daily intake (EDI), Target hazard quotient (THQ), Total THQ (TTHQ) and Target Carcinogenic risk (TCR) confirmed that, there have no chances of any kind of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks from these yogurt samples.

Hydro-geochemistry and health risks assessment of some groundwaters suitability for drinking within the urban region of Unguja Island, Zanzibar

Majority of the Island inhabitants depends on groundwaters for drinking therefore the hydrogeochemistry and health risks assessment with respect to WHO standards is absolutely essential for protection policy formulation. The groundwater samples for analyses were collected from selected four wells within each (Chukwani-Mbweni, DarajaMbovu - Amani and Mwanakwerekwe) suburb during the moderate rainy season of January2020.The selection was based on their strategic positions taking into consideration relevant geographical and environmental factors commensurable with this study. Various contaminants and physiochemical parameters were determined using Atomic Absorption spectroscopy, GC/MS, Temp/pH/TDS/EC meter and DR/3900 spectrophotometer. Chemical Oxygen Demand values were also determined. Microbial contamination was determined using the MPN technique. The results shows that these groundwaters are slightly alkaline, microbially contaminated, have high C.O.D. values ranging from 188.5 to 305.7 mg/L indicating the existence of some organic based endocrine disruptive elements, and disparities in water quality parameters with respect to the recommended WHO standards thus ascertaining possible public health risks. The research recommends the need for continuous monitoring, assessment and treatment of these raw groundwaters for drinking at the point of collection rather relying on the old conventional boiling method or drinkingas it is.

Mercury in Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer and Its Underlying Substrate—Environmental and Health Risks Assessment

Wild-growing edible mushrooms are valuable food with a high content of proteins, fibers, antioxidants, and they are characterized by their specific taste and flavor. However, from an ecotoxicological point of view, they are a risk commodity because of their extremely high bioaccumulative capacity to accumulate the risk elements and contaminants from the environment. In the present study, we examined mercury (Hg) contamination in 230 fruiting bodies of Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer and 230 soil/substrate samples, which were collected in foraging seasons 2015–2019 from 22 different locations in Slovakia. Total mercury content was determined by cold-vapor AAS analyzer AMA 254. The level of contamination and environmental risks were assessed by contamination factor (Cf), index of geoaccumulation (Igeo), and potential environmental risk index (PER). Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was calculated for individual anatomical parts of M. procera. Mercury content in the soil/substrate samples varied between 0.02 and 0.89 mg kg−1 DW, and in mushroom samples between 0.03 and 2.83 mg kg−1 DW (stems), and between 0.04 and 6.29 mg kg−1 DW (caps). The obtained results were compared with the provisional tolerable weekly intake for Hg defined by WHO to determine a health risk resulting from regular and long-term consumption of M. procera.

Investigation on the Storage Stability of Packaged Water Commonly Produced in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria

This study investigated the effects of storage conditions on the physicochemical parameter, microbial loads and health risks assessment of randomly 30 selected sachet and bottle water brands (A, B and C) in Ilorin Metropolis. Random sampling procedures were used to collect samples from three different brands and subjected to three different storage conditions; immediately (initial), mild sunlight and intense sunlight condition. The heavy metals (Cr, Pb and Fe) investigated in this study were above the permissible limits (WHO, SON). The presence of TBC, TCC, FCC and TFC in all the water samples analyzed showed no effective quality control system. Incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) assessment revealed a carcinogenic health risk to the populace drinking this water. It can be deduced from this study that water stored under sunlight for a long period of time is not good for human consumption and therefore adequate monitoring by the appropriate agencies are emphasized.