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The present study was performed to determine the amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and health risk in potato and related products (raw potato, fries potato, charcoal-grilled potato, gas-grilled potato, boiled potato and industrial potato chips) using the MSPE technique (magnetic solid phase extraction) and GC/MS method (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). The results exhibited that the median of 16 PAHs was 10.63 µg/kg. Also, the median level of BaP (Benzo[a]pyrene) in samples was 0.07 µg/kg, which was less than standard level of the European Commission (maximum level of BaP in vegetables is 1 and in dried herbs is 10 μg/kg). The highest and lowest median level of ƩPAHs were evaluated in potato chips (19.28 μg/kg) and raw potatoes (6.31 μg/kg), respectively. The simulation of Monte Carlo used to estimate the indexes of Chronic Daily Intake (CDI) and Incremental Life Cancer Risk (ILCR). This results showed the rank order of the index of CDI according to percentile 95% was Nap > Ace > Acy > Ph > Fla > An > Chr > B(k)F > B(a)P. The cancer risk assessment exhibited PAHs in samples did not pose a serious concern to humans (ILCR<10−6), which were below the provisional maximum tolerable daily (10 ng/kg bw day−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the levels of six PAEs [bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP)] were determined from four types of bottled water)non-carbonated, mineral, carbonated and carbonated flavoured) using MSPE method (magnetic solid phase extraction) and GC/MS technique (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry). The mean concentration of total PAEs was 6.11 ± 1.43 µg/L. The mean concentration of DEHP was 2.22 ± 0.76 µg/L and was lower than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) standard level in drinking water (6 μg/L for DEHP). The highest mean level of total PAE was observed in carbonated water (7.43 ± 2.03 μg/L) and the lowest mean level of total PAE was observed in non-carbonated water (5.15 ± 0.41 μg/L). The Monte Carlo method was applied to calculate the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Chronic Daily Intake (CDI), and Incremental Life Cancer Risk (ILCR) indexes. In all samples, the rank order of the estimated THQ values based on the 95% percentile was DEHP (4.77E-4) > DBP (2.25E-5) > BBP (1.99E-5) > DEP (2.75E-6) and there would be unlikely non-carcinogenic risks for consumers (THQ<1). The incremental lifetime cancer risk assessment revealed that phthalate esters (DEHP) in evaluated bottled water samples did not pose a serious concern to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the trace elements lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) quantity have been investigated using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) residual by iodometric titration method in raisin samples in different regions of Iran. The results showed that the concentration of Cu, Zn and Fe were in the range of 0.053–0.212 mg/kg, 0.048–0.170 mg/kg and 0.541–0.843 mg/kg, respectively, whereas Cd, Ni, As and Pb concentrations in the samples were less than detection limit (LOD). The SO2 residual in raisin samples was between 30 and 843.33 mg/kg. The LOD of Cu, Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, and As were 0.022 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.047 mg/kg, 0.04 mg/kg, 0.019 mg/kg, 0.024 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg, respectively. The Monte Carlo simulation results showed that the indexes of target hazard quotient (THQ) due to ingestion of SO2 residues estimated lower than the safe level (THQ < 1) in all samples, except in the Raisin-B and Raisin-D samples. Accordingly, to ensure consumer health and improve international trade, continuous control and adaptive regulation of sulphur dioxide residues and trace elements in dried fruit are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was performed to assess the concentration and health risk of eight trace elements (manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As)) in animal product samples (n = 120) in Markazi province of Iran by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Some trace elements such as Mn, Hg, Cu, Pb, Fe, and Zn were detected in samples while Cd and As non-detected. Fe had the highest mean level of trace elements in meat samples (1551.28 ± 83.25 μg/kg). The levels of Pb and Hg in some samples were upper than the limit of the European Commission (EC) and the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI), International/National Standards for Heavy Metals, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Deterministic and probabilistic health risk assessment approaches to evaluate of the target hazard quotients (THQ) and carcinogenic risks (CR) index were applied. The Monte Carlo probability distributions revealed that the rank order of total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) was milk > meat > egg. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic index of toxic elements indicated that exposed population in Markazi province was safe (1> THQ, 10−4> CR), except Hg exposure for children in milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of trace elements in 150 samples of fruit juices (traditional and commercial) and the determination of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. We used from inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) to assess the element of concentration in the samples after microwave digestion (Ethos Up Mileston) process. The highest mean concentration was 273.8 ± 2.4 μg/L is related to Cu in traditional juice samples (Pomegranate) and the lowest was 0.3 μg/L is related to Cr in commercial juice samples (Grape). Heat-map analysis was also carried out for the clustering of trace elements. The Monte–Carlo simulation results revealed that the trend of target hazard quotient (THQ) for metals in all samples was Pb > Hg > Cd > As > Ni. The concentration of toxic elements in juice samples was sufficiently low, and all of the juices sold in Tehran were safe for consumers, but their presence in these juices cannot be neglected as long-term exposure can significantly influence human health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold plasma is a high-end technology that offers favorable opportunities for microorganism inactivation in contaminated food. This review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of cold plasma treatment to reduce different pathogen and spoilage microorganisms in various foods. In addition, the effect of influential factors related to plasma processing, including microorganism type, gas type, treatment time, and treatment voltage, on the reduction rate of microorganisms was assessed using principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. The extracted data showed that most researcher investigated plasma efficiency on the inactivation of Escherichia coli in different food samples. Also in most studies the plasma was generated using air as plasma gas. The microorganism inactivation rate obtained by cold plasma treatments was raging from -0.90 to 8.00 log CFU. The plasma voltage (0.7) and plasma gas (0.66) had a significant correlation with principal component 1 and had a negative correlation coefficient with treatment time (-0.76). The reduction rate (0.68) and microorganism (0.7) were positively correlated with principal components 2. The findings indicated that cold plasma has an excellent potential to decontaminate hazardous organisms in different food. Besides, plasma treatment conditions should be considered to optimize the effective inactivation rates. The reduction rate of microorganisms in different foods is strongly influenced by microbial factors and technical plasma performance factors. Regarding the crucial damage to microorganism cell components using plasma, this novel technology could efficiently apply for preservation and also promote the shelf life of food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most trace metals (essential and toxic metals) in very low concentrations are needed for living organisms, especially humans, but if they exceed the recommended limit, they can lead to toxicity in humans. The aim of this study was to determinate of concentration of 12 trace metals including; aluminium(Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn), in 90 samples of sesame seeds from three varieties of black, yellow and white purchased from markets different cities of Iran (2019) using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) technique. Also, Probabilistic risk assessment (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks) was estimated by models include target hazard quotient (THQ) and cancer risk (CR) in the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) model. The recoveries estimated from 94% to 106%. The maximum mean value was obtained for Zn element (1707 ± 22 µg kg−1), while concentrations of Al and Hg were non-detected (ND). The concentration of five toxic metals Al, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb as average in sesame seed samples were reported as ND, 11.464 ± 1.71, 1.15 ± 0.04, ND and 16.14 ± 1.60 μg kg−1, respectively. Analyzes showed that no significant difference in the amount of trace metals between sesame varieties (black, brown and white). In most of the sesame seed samples, trace metals have been measured at lower levels than the standard limits. The results of MCS showed that the rank order of toxic metals based on 95% THQ index for both adults and children was As > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd. The uncertain analysis of human health risk (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks) indicated that there is no serious risk (THQ >1 and CR >1E-4) for adults and children by ingestion of sesame seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides are major chemical substances found in agricultural crops able to induce adverse health effects at very low concentrations. Pistachio is one of the important horticulture products which is exposed to multiple pesticide residues in developing countries such as Iran. In this study the pesticide residues were determined in 40 samples of pistachio collectedfromDamghan (one of the leading pistachio producing zones in Iran). A total of 11 individual pesticide residues belonging to four chemical groups including organophosphates, organochlorines, pyrethroids, and nicotinoids were quantified using Liquid-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Gas-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Dietary risk assessment of pesticides residues was assessed regarding general population and children. Based on the results, the total means of each determined pesticide were above the limit of quantification in 71.4% of them and in 14.2% were above the maximum residue limit (MRL) set by European Union in monitored samples. Two types of nicotinoids including imidacloprid (0.1359 mg/kg) and acetamiprid (0.3448 mg/kg) exceeded the MRL. The 95th percentile of hazard quotient (HQ) in children and adults due to ingestion of imidacloprid and acetamiprid in pistachio nut was calculated as 9.43E-4, 2.04E-4 and 1.95E-3, 4.1e-4, respectively. The risk assessment according to Monte Carlo approach indicated that consumers are not at considerable non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks via pistachio consumption (HI and THQ < 1 value). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to assess the concentration of the trace elements Al, As, Cd, Ba, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Mn, Fe and Zn in 150 commercial soft drinks marketed of Iran, using inductive couple plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The data obtained were compared with the permissible limit set for drinking water by the Codex Alimantarius (CA), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) and National Standard of Iran (NSI). The highest mean level was 84.11 ± 27.06 μg/L is related to Fe and the lowest was Cr > Pb > Ni > Al > Ba. Target hazard quotient index of toxic elements, for adults and children, was considerably lower than the safe risk limits THQ > 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]