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The purpose of this study was to assess the health risk of the heavy metals (HMs) (arsenic [As], cadmium [Cd], chromium [Cr], copper [Cu], iron [Fe], lead [Pb], Manganese [Mn], and zinc [Zn]) in rice produced in Mazandaran province (Amol and Mahmoudabad), Iran. A number of 60 rice samples were randomly collected and analyzed for the HMs by ICP-MS. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks of the HMs were probabilistically assessed based on Monte Carlo simulation in terms of hazard quotient/index (HQ/HI) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (LTCR), respectively. The average concentration of HMs in rice grains in the studied areas was ranked as follows: Fe > Zn > Mn > Pb > Cu > Cr > As > Cd. THQΣmi showed that non-carcinogenic risk for area residents was largely related to Pb (1.77), As (0.59), Fe (0.57) and Cr (0.41). The average HI values of the HMs in rice produced in Amol and Mahmoudabad were assessed to be 2.42 (1.10–4.14) and 1.91 (0.43–3.9), respectively. The average LTCR values of the HMs in rice were in the following order: Cd (3.46 × 10−4 [1.34 × 10−4 to 6.96 × 10−4] for Amol and 3.97 × 10−4 [1.35 × 10−4 to 9.57 × 10−4] for Mahmoudabad) > As (8.60 × 10−5 [1.47 × 10−5 to 2.42 × 10−4] for Amol and 1.04 × 10−4 [6.17 × 10−6 to 2.83 × 10−4] for Mahmoudabad) > Cr (5.71 × 10−5 [2.88 × 10−5 to 9.61 × 10−5] for Amol and 4.75 × 10−5 [1.59 × 10−5 to 8.69 × 10−5] for Mahmoudabad). The average total LTCR value of the HMs in rice was within the acceptable range (10−6 to 10−4). The findings showed that exposure to the HMs via rice consumption could threaten human health, and an appropriate strategy to reduce concentrations of the HMs in rice is needed. • ICP-MS was utilized to analyze the concentration of HMs in rice produced in Iran. • The calculated THQ for Pb was found to be higher compared to other HMs. • The LTCR associated with rice and exposure to HMs was within an acceptable range. • Regular monitoring of HMs levels in rice prior to market entry is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, the majority of studies have assessed the health risks of toxic metals (TMs) in raw rice and/or in rice that is cooked in the laboratory under controlled conditions. However, people usually consume rice that is cooked in metallic cookware using ordinary cooking water and various additives. Therefore, this study focused on the contamination levels of TMs in raw rice and rice cooked under real conditions by the rural households of northern Iran. The levels of As and Cd in the cooking water used in rural households were negligible. The As levels in raw and cooked rice were 257 ± 134 and 243 ± 28 μg/kg, respectively, and the corresponding values for Cd were 8.54 ± 6.94 and 8.64 ± 3.18 μg/kg, respectively. Probabilistic health risk assessment showed unacceptable health risks for the As contamination of both raw and home-cooked rice but with different probability distributions. Overall, this study showed that the cooking water with low TMs levels was not sufficient for the significant reduction of these contaminants in rice during home cooking. Therefore, it is essential to monitor the TMs levels in home-cooked rice, instead of raw and/or artificially cooked rice, for a more realistic assessment of attributed health risks to the general public. • Toxic metals (TMs) levels of home-cooked rice evaluated. • TMs levels were not reduced during home-cooking. • TMs levels in cooking water were negligible. • Arsenic in home-cooked rice may pose unacceptable health risks for rural residents. • Health risk assessment based on the TMs levels of home-cooked rice is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a homogenous liquid–liquid extraction method was combined with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and utilized for the extraction of Co, Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Tl from honey samples before their determination by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. For this purpose, firstly, diluted honey solution was transferred into a glass test tube and mixed with a few milliliters of a mixture of n -butanol and choline chloride: menthol: p -aminophenol deep eutectic solvent. A homogenous solution was obtained. After that an appropriate amount of sodium chloride was added into the solution and sonicated for 6 min. During this step, the homogenous solution was broken and the mixture of n -butanol and the deep eutectic solvent mixture was collected on top of the solution. The supernatant phase was removed and quickly injected into deionized water. After centrifugation, the collected phase at the bottom of the tube was injected into the determination system. Under the optimum situations, low limits of detection (0.24–0.74 ng g–1) and quantification (0.79–2.46 ng g–1), high extraction recoveries (80–92%), and good repeatability (relative standard deviations equal to or less than 3.6% and 3.9% for intra– and inter-day precisions, respectively) were acquired. Finally, the offered method was employed for determination of the studied heavy metals in various honey samples marketed in Tabriz city, Iran. • A green three-component DES was used as an extraction solvent and complexing agent. • SIHLLE combined with DLLME was used for extraction of heavy metals. • ICP-AES method was used for determination of the analytes. • Greenness, low cost, and effective sample preparation are advantages of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metals and pesticides pose risk to human health if accumulated in date fruits eaten for their distinctive sweetness and beneficial minerals. The present study evaluated the concentrations of metals and pesticides in Mazafati date fruit, soil, and irrigation water from three locations of Kerman province in Iran to show potential pollution hazards to consumers of date fruit in Iran. Levels of pesticides and metals were measured using chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, respectively. The significant difference between the levels of Cu, Fe, chlorpyrifos, and malathion from three various locations was identified. The majority of metals except for Pb and Cd did not meet the safety limits concerning maximum allowable levels (MAL) in the Mazafati date cultivar. Estimated daily intake (EDI) of metals through date consumption (g/person/day) for all metals was above the tolerable daily intake in all studied locations. Furthermore, the concentrations of identified residues of chlorpyrifos, HCH total, and malathion are considerably upper than the maximum residue limits (MRL), showing a risky trend in the cultivation of date palm. As a result, the public consciousness of Iranian farmers should be raised to use pesticides more prudently. Also, consuming date fruits cultivated close to the industrial zones is hazardous and must be prevented. • Heavy metals Cu, Fe, and Zn were present in all Mazafati date samples. • Concentration of Chlorpyrifos, HCH total, and Malathion were upper than the MRL. • Calculated Hazard Index values for pesticides and heavy metals shows major risk. • Estimated daily intake was considered higher than that of tolerable daily intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The transfer factor of heavy metals varied greatly between vegetables. • Parsley and coriander are low accumulators of all heavy metals. • Basil, peppermint, and dill were high accumulators of Cd and Pb. Due to the utilization of municipal and industrial wastewater, as well as the uncontrolled use of chemical and livestock fertilizers leafy vegetables have a high content of heavy metals (HMs). Soils and eight vegetable samples extensively used in Iran were collected from numerous vegetable farms to investigate the risk of HMs pollution and human health risk in Hamadan province, western Iran. Based on the results, it was found that the tested species differed in the content of HMs. Most of the HMs studied were found to be inside the maximum permissible limits (MPL) except for Cd (1.46–2.40 mg kg−1 DW, for Coriandrum sativum L. (coriander) and Ocimum basilicum L. (basil), respectively and Pb (13.5–21.8 mg kg−1 DW, for Petroselinum crispum (Miller) (parsley) and basil, respectively) which were higher than the MPL. The transfer factor (TF) of HMs in eight vegetables was estimated, and HMs varied greatly between vegetables. The TF values of the studied HMs were ordered based on the mean values of TF in all vegetables: Cd (1.48) > Zn (0.60) > Pb (0.39) > Cu (0.32) > Mn (0.14) > Ni (0.12) > Fe (0.03). The health risk index (HRI) values for the studied HMs for adults were less than 1 except for Cd and Pb. Basil, Mentha piperita L. (peppermint), and Anethum graveolens L. (dill) were chosen as high accumulators of Cd and Pb based on TF and HRI. The health risks connected with the Cd and Pb content of vegetables cultivated in western Iran are highlighted in this study, which implies that required steps should be done to reduce Cd and Pb accumulation in western Iran's vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The HQ value for all heavy metals and HI value for all tea brands were below one. • Any non-carcinogenic adverse health effect through consuming these black teas was not confirmed. • There was no mercury contamination among these imported tea brands. • Aflatoxin B1 was only detected in Kenyan and Vietnamese black tea samples. Black tea is a popular and widely consumed beverage in Iran. Due to the possibility of transferring heavy metals and mycotoxins to the food chain, its potential hazards should be considered. In this study, forty samples of black tea imported to Bushehr port were collected. The physicochemical and microbial properties and their contamination with heavy metals including copper, lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, as well as Aflatoxin B1 were evaluated. Moreover, to evaluate the health effects of exposure to heavy metals, both Hazard Index (HI) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) values were calculated. The concentration of lead, cadmium, arsenic and copper were: 0.63, 0.061, 0.01, 29.93 mg kg−1 in Sri Lankan, 0.65, 0.063, 0.11, 21.3 mg kg−1 in Indian, 0.61, 0.055, 0.085, 14.82 mg kg−1 in Kenyan and 1.71, 0.06, 0.1, 37.87 mg kg−1 in Vietnamese tea samples, respectively. No Hg contamination was observed. Aflatoxin B1 was only detected in Kenyan and Vietnamese samples (24.33 and 42.66 ng g−1, respectively). The calculation of HQ value for all heavy metals and HI value for all brands, which all were below one, showed that there is no non-carcinogenic adverse health effect through consuming these black teas for the adult consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In this study, some heavy metals were analyzed in high-consumption cereals. • The TTHQ of heavy metals for almost cereals is less than acceptable level. • The TCR of heavy metals for almost cereals is higher than acceptable level. • Monitoring cereals for heavy metals is essential before entering the market. In this study, seven types of high-consumption cereals including lentil, peas, corn, split peas, bean, rice, and wheat (totally 48 brands) were surveyed from the market of Kermanshah city (Iran). A total of 144 samples (3 from each brand) were analyzed for cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg). Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) was utilized to analyze As and Hg elements, while analysis of other metal ions was performed with an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The overall concentration of Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu, Hg and As was equal to 6.85 ± 12.0, 27.3 ± 15.5, 86.7 ± 136, 459 ± 146, 21.2 ± 34.8, 147 ± 86.3, 2.03 ± 2.26 and 0.62 ± 1.80 μg/kg dry weight, respectively. The total non-carcinogenic (TTHQ) of heavy metals for almost cereals is less than acceptable level (= 1), while the corresponding total carcinogenic risks (TCR) for almost cereals is higher than allowable limit (= 10-4). Therefore, various practical measures can be taken to reduce the amount of heavy metals in cereals. These measures including avoid excessive consumption of fertilizers and pesticides for cereals production, cultivation of cereals in high-quality soils, and continuous monitoring of cereals in market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The contents of heavy metals in imported rice bran oil (RBO) were investigated. • HMs concentrations in RBO samples were ranged from 0.005 to 0.74 μg/g. • A significant difference in Pb concentration in RBO samples was observed. • The ILCRs for HMs for children and adults ranged from 2.4 × 10−5 to2.6 × 10−4. • THQs of HMs for children were lower than the acceptable limit (THQ < 1). In this current study, the contents of heavy metals including Pb, As, Cr, Cd, Zn, Cu, and Mn in imported rice bran oil in Iran were investigated with microwave digestion method based on an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry system (ICP-OES). The concentrations range of Pb, Cr, Cd, As, Zn, and Cu in rice bran oil samples were measured as 0.066–0.30, 0.008–0.014, 0.005–0.01, 0.047–0.01, 0.025–0.74 and 0.01–0.096 μg/g, respectively. A significant difference (p-value < 0.05) in the mean concentration of Pb in imported rice bran oils samples was observed. The sum of incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for heavy metals for children and adults were 2.6 × 10−4 and 2.4 × 10−5, respectively, which an acceptable level proposed values (10−4–10−6) by U.S. EPA. Moreover, the target hazard quotients (THQs) of As, Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu, and Zn for children were limited to between 1.17 × 10-5 and 9.49 × 10−9, and in adults were limited to 2.33 × 10−7and 6.82 × 10-7, which were lower than the acceptable limit (THQ < 1). There have been concerns regarding heavy metals since past up to now in all foodstuffs. We demonstrated in this study that there are traceable concentrations of heavy metals in six brand of rice bran oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]