Heavy Metals Level, Health Risk Assessment Associated with Contamination of Black Tea; A Case Study from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan.

In the present study, 15 different commercial tea brands sold in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were collected from the markets. The samples were analyzed for the concentrations of ten selected heavy metals. The metal concentration showed a random distribution in all samples. The mean concentration of Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, Zn, and Fe was found in the range of 0.029-0.094 mg kg-1, 7.11-12.30 mg kg-1, 20.73-24.17 mg kg-1, 0.159-0.824 mg kg-1, 1.136-2.938 mg kg-1, and 0.670-118.30 mg kg-1 respectively. Co, Cr, Ni, and Sb were found below the detection limit of the instrument. Cu and Mn were found to be the abundant metals with a high concentration in the collected samples. The estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotients (THQs), and hazard index (HI) were used for the assessment of health risks associated with the intake of metals. The metal transfer rates to tea infusion were reported from previous studies. Except for Cu, the EDI values of all the elements were found to be lower than the RfD values. The corresponding HI values of metals, in the different tea brands, were found to be below 1 suggesting that the consumption of mature tea infusions in the studied area could cause no carcinogenic risk. The principle cluster analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the number of variables to a new set which extracted three factors. For the assessment of health risks associated with dietary metal exposure, constant determination of heavy metals in all food is necessary. The present study provides valuable information to the general public about the consumption of tea infusions.

Impact Of Socio-Economic Status On Determinants Of Medical Career.

BACKGROUND: Research on determinants of Medical profession has established some constant factors with universal impact and appeal. However, the dramatic changes in the dynamics of medical profession and medical education over the past years have necessitated a revisiting of the established conclusions. The knowledge of impact of economic status on these determinants would pave way to greater interest and research on the subject, especially in Hazara Division where it is practically nonexistent. METHODS: This exploratory research followed deductive-inductive approach and was conducted upon 550 respondents from four public and private colleges in Hazara Division. Extensive study of related literature yielded 20 broad determinants of medical career. Pre-research pilot testing verified the reliability of a self-designed instrument. The data collection method adopted was a single shot survey. Personal data of respondents was collected during administration of the instrument. The sample was extracted through systematic random sampling technique giving due weight to proportional representation of each college as well as to the gender distribution. RESULTS: The results revealed a significant difference in the impact of reassuring social perceptions and social status and prestige of medical profession between upper middle class and lower middle class. The results also showed that the students of upper middle class faced significantly greater domestic and familial pressure to enter the medical profession than those from lower middle class. CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that the upper middle class is under greater influence of societal forces and wider impressions about the medical profession. The students hailing from upper middle class enter the Medical career motivated by urge for social status and prestige and are most compelled by domestic and familial pressures to enter medicine.