The Control and Comprehensive Safety Assessment of Heavy Metal Impurities (As, Pb, and Cd) in Green Tea Camellia sinensis (L.) Samples (Infusions) Available in Poland.

Tea is the world's most common drink after water, and the world's annual sales exceed $43 billion, of which more than $11 billion is green tea (Camellia sinensis (L.)). Increasing evidence continues to show that green tea consumption and its ingredients have a variety of potential health benefits. The aim of the study was to control and assess the toxicological risk (TRA) of three heavy metals (As, Pb, and Cd) in infusions of green tea (n = 12) from Polish markets. We applied the method of inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the selected heavy metal and designed a specific toxicological risk assessment with three crucial tiers. The first tier of our strategy was to determine the elements investigated (heavy metal impurities, µg/L). The second step was to estimate the weekly intake of green tea infusions (µg/week) based on weekly consumption. The third tier was to estimate the weekly intake per weight (µg/L/week/bw), based on the average weekly intake of green tea infusion per adult compared to the provisional weekly intake (PTWI) established by the FAO/WHO Joint Food Additives Expert Committee (JECFA). The levels of the investigated heavy metals occur at different levels in all of the investigated green tea infusions. The heavy metal profile indicated that As (0.0721-10.585 µg/L), Pb (0.386-1.695 µg/L), and Cd (0.126-0.346 µg/L) were present in all samples. Basic analysis of general content shows that As (average = 0.325 µg/L) was at a level similar to Cd (average = 0.214 µg/L). Surprisingly, the Pb content (average 0.891 µg/L) was approximately 2.75-4 times higher than that of As and Cd, respectively. The application of our proposed safety assessment methodology (three tiers) provides satisfactory results for regulatory purposes. The evaluation of the investigated heavy metals in all products analysed from green tea samples (infusions) showed that there were no health hazards to consumers due to weekly exposure. The results indicated that after drinking green tea infusions from Polish markets, the amount of investigated elements in weekly doses does not represent any health risks to consumers.

The application of demographic characteristics of Ectropis grisescens (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in pest risk assessment of IPM.

Ectropis grisescens Warren is one of the most important pests of tea plants. In this study, data on the development, survival, and fecundity of E. grisescens were collected at 15, 22, and 32 °C and analyzed by using the age-stage, two-sex life table. At 15 °C, the duration of the preadult period of E. grisescens was significantly prolonged (81.06 days), with high mortality (69.0%), and the proportion of emerged female adults was extremely low (7.0%). At 32 °C, the preadult period was significantly shortened (29.12 days), with high preadult mortality (74.0%), and a low proportion of emerged female adults (15.0%). At 22 °C, with low preadult mortality (24.0%), and a high proportion of emerged female adults (26.0%). The overall effects of the shorter preadult duration, higher preadult survival rate, higher proportion of emerged female adults, higher fecundity (F = 350.88 eggs/♀), and higher net reproductive rate (R0 = 91.23 offspring/individual) at 22 °C resulted in the highest values of the intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.1054 days-1) and finite rate of increase (λ = 1.1112 days-1). Computer simulation showed that E. grisescens populations can increase much faster at 22 °C than at 15 and 32 °C. The weighted population size and cumulative weighted insect-days provided the dynamics necessary for estimating the damage potential of E. grisescens in devising economical pest management programs. Our results demonstrate that populations of E. grisescens were able to develop at a broad range of temperatures and adapt to the high temperatures. These finding can be utilized to improve the management of E. grisescens.

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) from Weeds through Weed-Soil-Tea Transfer and Risk Assessment of Tea Intake.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) have been detected in tea and can threaten human health. However, the specific source of PAs in tea is still unclear. Here, 88 dried tea products collected from six major tea-producing areas in Anhui Province, China, were analyzed. The detection frequency was 76%. The content of total PAs in dried tea was between 1.1 and 90.5 µg/kg, which was all below the MRL recommended by the European Union (150 µg/kg). In the Shexian tea garden, PAs in the weeds and weed rhizospheric soil around tea plants and the fresh tea leaves were analyzed. Intermedine (Im), intermedine-N-oxide (ImNO), and jacobine-N-oxide (JbNO) were transferred through the weed-to-soil-to-tea route into the fresh tea leaves; only Im and ImNO were detected in dried tea samples. Potential risk of the total PAs in the tea infusion was assessed according to the margin of exposure method, and it might be a low concern for public health.

Essential and Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) Content in European Tea (Camellia sinensis) Leaves: Risk Assessment for Consumers.

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is the second most consumed beverage worldwide, playing a key role in the human diet. Tea is considered a healthy drink, as its consumption has been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease-related events and death, stroke, metabolic syndrome and obesity. However, several studies have shown that C. sinensis is a hyperaccumulator of Al and other elements that are considered potentially toxic. In the present study, the contents of 15 elements (both essential and toxic) were determined for the first time in tea leaves collected in tea gardens located in six different European countries and processed to provide black and green tea. The results showed that Al was the major toxic element detected, followed by Ni, Cr, Pb, As, Cd, Ag, and Hg. Essential elements were detected in the order of Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, and Se. Statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) were found in the distribution of some elements, highlighting mechanisms of synergic or antagonist interaction. Multivariate analysis revealed that geographical origin was the main driver in clustering the samples, while the different treatment processes (black or green) did not significantly affect the contents of elements in the leaves. The estimation of potential non-carcinogenic risk revealed no risk for the consumption of European teas for consumers in terms of potentially toxic elements.

Simultaneous monitoring and dietary risk assessment of 386 pesticides in market samples of black tea.

Black tea samples (390) collected from local markets situated in different locations of India were monitored for the residues of 386 pesticides using QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) based extraction and analysis by gas and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS). Residues of seventeen pesticides were detected, of which propargite, cypermethrin, and novaluron showed the highest % positive detections. A comparison of the concentrations of the detected pesticide residues with the available national and international maximum residue limits (MRLs) showed that seven samples exceeded the Indian MRLs while no sample was found to exceed the CODEX MRLs. The risk due to the detected pesticide levels evaluated in terms of hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) was found to be very low (<1), suggesting that the pesticide residues in the tea were safe for consumption by Indian adults and children.

The Toxicological Analysis and Toxicological Risk Assessment of Chosen Elemental Impurities (Ag, Au, Co, Cr, Cs, Li, Mo, Se, and Sr) in Green Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.)) Infusions.

Our study's objective is to evaluate the potential health effects of elemental impurities (Ag, Au, Co, Cr, Cs, Li, Mo, Se, and Sr) found in green tea infusions (Camellia sinensis (L.)). The ICP-MS-based methodology was employed for elemental analysis and a detailed health risk evaluation based on weekly consumption (µg/L of infusion/week). The provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), established by the Joint FAO Expert Committee on infusion/week/month based on existing literature data, was then compared to the subjects with data from the available literature. The exposure of the study items to Co ranged from 0.07904 to 0.85421 µg/day. On the contrary, the ICH (International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use) guidelines state that the established permitted daily exposure PDE (oral exposure) for Co is 50 µg/day. The PDE of lithium is around 560 µg/day, and according to our study, the estimated daily exposure of the evaluated products to Li fell between 0.0185 and 0.7170 µg/day. Our research also revealed modest concentrations of Cs (0.399-2.654 µg/L), Mo (0.0113-0.107 µg/L), and Sr (9.848-22.331 µg/L) in infusions. The recognized PDE for molybdenum is approximately 3400 µg/day. Only two samples contained silver, and when considering daily consumption, the predicted daily exposure to Ag is between 4.4994 and 0.03122 µg/day. The amounts of all evaluated elements in a daily dose of green tea infusions should not harm the consumer's health. Further considerations should take aspects, such as constant change and environmental pollution, into account.

The metabolism and dissipation behavior of tolfenpyrad in tea: A comprehensive risk assessment from field to cup.

The metabolites of pesticides usually require rational risk assessment. In the present study, the metabolites of tolfenpyrad (TFP) in tea plants were identified using UPLC-QToF/MS analysis, and the transfer of TFP and its metabolites from tea bushes to consumption was studied for a comprehensive risk assessment. Four metabolites, PT-CA, PT-OH, OH-T-CA, and CA-T-CA, were identified, and PT-CA and PT-OH were detected along with dissipation of the parent TFP under field conditions. During processing, 3.11-50.00 % of TFP was further eliminated. Both PT-CA and PT-OH presented a downward trend (7.97-57.89 %) during green tea processing but an upward trend (34.48-124.17 %) during black tea manufacturing. The leaching rate (LR) of PT-CA (63.04-101.03 %) from dry tea to infusion was much higher than that of TFP (3.06-6.14 %). As PT-OH was no longer detected in tea infusions after 1 d of TFP application, TFP and PT-CA were taken into account in the comprehensive risk assessment. The risk quotient (RQ) assessment indicated a negligible health risk, but PT-CA posed a greater potential risk than TFP to tea consumers. Therefore, this study provides guidance for rational TFP application and suggests the sum of TFP and PT-CA residues as the maximum residual limit (MRL) in tea.

Elemental Profiling of North-East Indian Tea (Camellia sinensis) by ICP-MS and Assessment of Associated Health Risk.

Tea is a perennial crop that requires acidic soil for better plant growth. Due to the acidic nature of tea-growing soil, metals can be easily absorbed by tea plants from growing medium. Other anthropogenic activities are also the major contributor of element in the tea. This study provided a comprehensive database of 24 elements which were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Selected 24 elements belong to alkali metal (Li, Rb, Cs), alkaline earth metal (Be, Sr, Ba), transition metal (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd, Hg), basic metal (Al, Ga, Sn, Tl, Pb), metalloid (As), non-metal (Se), and actinide (U). Total 321 drier mouth samples were collected during 2020-2021 from eight different regions (Darjeeling, Terai, Dooars, North Bank, Upper Assam, South Bank, Cachar, and Tripura) of north-east India. No inorganic mercury as well as uranium was detected in any tested tea samples. Mean concentrations of Be, As, Ga, Tl, Li, Se, Cd, Ag, Cs, V, Co, and Pb were at trace level, whereas macro-element mean concentrations were distributed in the manner of Al > Mn > Rb > Ba > Zn > Cu > Sr > Cr > Ni > Sn. Human health risk for non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic metals was also assessed for the studied elements. Hazard quotients (HQs) and hazard index (HI) values (< 1) for non-carcinogenic elements indicated no risk. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values for carcinogenic elements indicated no risk for As, Cd, and Pb and medium level risk for Ni. Study concluded that north-east Indian tea would not pose any health hazard.

Residue behavior and risk assessment of afidopyropen and its metabolite M440I007 in tea.

Afidopyropen, a novel insecticide, is highly effective against piercing insects such as the tea leafhopper. The residual levels of afidopyropen and M440I007 in tea cultivation, processing, and brewing were studied. During tea cultivation, afidopyropen dissipated faster in fresh tea shoots in the rainy season (T1/2 of 1.2-2.5 d) than that in the dry season (T1/2 of 3.1-4.4 d); afidopyropen was metabolized into M440I007, the level of which peaked in 1 d, and degraded rapidly (over 90 %) afterward 3 d. The green tea processing steps had little effect on decreasing the afidopyropen residue (PF of 0.90-1.18). Low infusion rates of afidopyropen (16.7 %-17.7 %) and M440I007 (4.1 %-6.2 %) were observed from dry green tea to infusion; furthermore, the risk of ingesting afidopyropen from drinking tea was low, with the risk quotient values < 0.0001. This study can offer guidance on the rational application of afidopyropen in tea plants.

The chemical profiling and assessment of antioxidative, antidiabetic and antineurodegenerative potential of Kombucha fermented Camellia sinensis, Coffea arabica and Ganoderma lucidum extracts.

The scientific interest in the medicinal properties of Kombucha beverages, a carbonated drink with live microorganisms, has increased recently. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the chemical profile and to examine the antioxidant, antidiabetic and antineurodegenerative potential of unfermented and also Kombucha fermented Camellia sinensis (green tea), Coffea arabica (coffee), and Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) extracts. The extracts were prepared as follows: the first (unfermented) set contained 1 L of water, 50 g of sucrose and 20 g of dried and ground green tea, coffee, or Reishi basidiocarp, while the second (fermented) set contained all of the aforementioned ingredients individually inoculated with Kombucha and fermented for 21 days. The chemical analysis was conducted using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH, total reducing power (TRP), and ß-carotene bleaching assays. The inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity was used to estimate the antidiabetic potential, while the level of inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and tyrosinase (TYR) was used to evaluate the antineurodegenerative activity. The results suggested that the fermented extracts of green tea, coffee, and Reishi exert significant antioxidant effects, although they were lower compared to the unfermented extracts. The unfermented green tea extract exhibited the highest DPPH-scavenging activity (87.46%) and the highest preservation of ß-carotene (92.41%), while the fermented coffee extract showed the highest TRP (120.14 mg AAE per g) at 10 mg mL-1. Although the extracts did not inhibit the activity of α-amylase, they were quite effective at inhibiting α-glucosidase, especially the unfermented Reishi extract, inhibiting 95.16% (at a concentration of 10 mg mL-1) of α-glucosidase activity, which was slightly higher than the positive control at the same concentration. The most effective AChE inhibitor was unfermented green tea extract (68.51%), while the fermented coffee extract inhibited 34.66% of TYR activity at 10 mg mL-1. Altogether, these results are in accordance with the differences found in the extracts' chemical composition. Finally, this is the first report that highlights the differences in the chemical profile between the unfermented and Kombucha fermented green tea, coffee and Reishi extracts, while it also reveals, for the first time, the antineurodegenerative potential of Kombucha fermented Reishi extract. The examined extracts represent potent functional foods, while their more detailed mechanisms of action are expected to be revealed in future research.

Assessment of gamma radiation through agro-morphological characters in camellia sinensis L. (O.) kuntze.

PURPOSE: To study the effects of gamma radiation on tea seed germination, morphological changes, and genetic variation by using gamma radiation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fresh Tea seed material were irradiated with twenty different doses of gamma radiation such as 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 90, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 Gy from Cobalt 60Co source from Regional Nuclear Agriculture Research Center, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), West Bengal, in between 2019 and 2020. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The growth behavior of tea seedling was recorded under varying levels of gamma radiation and its performance at nursery stages. It was observed seed irradiated with doses from 35 Gy to 100 Gy could germinate but could not survive beyond five (05) months. When treated with higher doses as 200 Gy, 500 Gy and 1000 Gy, no seed germination takes places due to possible damages occur in the DNA structure. Screening of growth characteristics of tea plant generally monitored by the characteristics like plant height, number of leaves, number of primary branches, base diameter, and total leaf area of plants and we found that these characteristics significantly increased with the progress of time and increasing levels of gamma radiation; however, the plant height showed decreasing trend with the increasing levels of gamma radiation, which could be due to the change in chromosomal structure and genetic alteration. After 90 weeks of planting, the plant height, no. of primary branches, the number of leaves, plant base diameter, and total leaf area per plant recorded were 36.42 cm, 1/plant, 7.11/plant, 0.62 c.m, 22.92 cm2/plant respectively under the radiation level 30 Gy, whereas the corresponding figures of the above parameters at the control treatment were 85.32 cm, 1/plant, 18.84/plant, 1.18 c.m and 26.68 cm2/plant, respectively. The total plant height, no. of primary branches, the number of leaves, plant base diameter, and total leaf area per plant were significantly influenced by the rising levels of gamma radiation (up to 100 Gy), finally, after 90 weeks of planting, the maximum no. of branching was observed in the treatment of 8 Gy, 10 Gy and 15 Gy respectively. The study reveals a hitherto open the possibility of using gamma radiation on tea plant for creation of variation in the tea seed planting materials. Further studies on mutation using tea planting materials would give an insight into its mutable gene behavior.

Cost-effective and sensitive indicator-displacement array (IDA) assay for quality monitoring of black tea fermentation.

Herein, a new indicator-displacement array (IDA) sensor was developed for the quality evaluation of black tea fermentation. On the principle of the reversible covalent binding of phenylboronic acid and catechol, phenylboronic acids were selected as acceptors for targeted binding to polyphenols. Pyrocatechol violet and alizarin red S were used as indicators of the reaction. The IDA sensors have sensitive differential responses to fermented tea samples, achieving an assessment of the fermentation degree with accuracies of 80.39-88.00% by support vector machine (SVM). In addition, the key polyphenol components of the fermentation process were accurately predicted by the IDA and SVM regression with ratio of prediction to deviation values of 1.55-1.72, 2.03-2.21, and 2.03-2.08 for total polyphenols, total catechins, and epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate, respectively. In conclusion, the developed IDA sensor is capable of the in-situ quality monitoring of black tea fermentation, with the advantages being cost-effectiveness, sensitivity, and rapidity.

Accumulation of potentially toxic elements in Chinese tea (Camellia sinensis): Towards source apportionment and health risk assessment.

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is a popular beverage that is consumed globally. However, a better understanding of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) content in tea leaves and infusion is necessary to minimize risk on human health. Therefore, 249 tea samples (grown in different areas) covering six types of tea were collected in China to investigate the PTEs contents, identify their potential source and assess the health risk associated with drinking tea. PTE contents in tea leaves across six tea types were ND-0.900 (Cd), 0.005-2.133 (As), ND-5.679 (Pb), ND-13.86 (Cr), 1.601-22.93 (Ni), ND-2.048 (Se), 0.109-622.4 (F), 13.02-269.9 (Rb), 1.845-50.88 (Sr), and 2.796-53.23 (Ba) mg/kg. The result of tea infusion showed that 14.3 %-44.1 % (green tea), 14.5 %-46.7 % (black tea), 10.5 %-25.3 % (dark tea), 13.6 %-34.2 % (oolong tea), 16.9 %-40.7 % (yellow tea), and 19.9 %-35.1 % (white tea) of F were released. All tea types, except green tea, exhibited comparatively low leachability of Cd, As, Pb and Cr in tea infusion. The source apportionment revealed that PTEs in tea leaves mainly originated from soil parental materials, while industrial activities, fertilizer application, and manufacturing processes may contribute to exogenous Se, Cd, As, and Cr accumulation. Health risk assessment indicated that F in tea infusion dominated the health risk. Humans may be exposed to a higher health risk by drinking green tea compared to that of other tea types. Nevertheless, the long-term tea consumption is less likely to contribute to pronounced non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. This study confirmed that tea consumption is an important and direct pathway of PTEs uptake in humans. The health risk associated with drinking tea should be of concern.

Quantitative probabilistic assessment of caffeine intake from tea in Chinese adult consumers based on nationwide caffeine content determination and tea consumption survey.

Caffeine has known effects on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. An intake up to 400 mg/day does not give rise to health concerns. Tea, a major source of caffeine, is highly consumed in China. However, the potential health risk of caffeine from tea has not been well evaluated. The present study assessed caffeine intake levels from tea for Chinese adult consumers. We collected 1,398 samples of green, black, dark, jasmine, oolong, white, and yellow tea from 17 provinces. The caffeine content was determined by HPLC. The average contents were 27 (oolong tea) - 43 (yellow tea) mg/g. The leaching rate of caffeine into the water was about 100%. Tea consumption data were from the National Beverage Consumption Survey 2013-2014. Monte Carlo simulations were applied to estimate the distribution of caffeine intake. The average caffeine intake from tea was 180 mg/day of all consumers. Green, dark, and black tea were the primary sources. Males (197 mg/day) consumed more caffeine than females (136 mg/day) on average, but females older than 71 years had the highest intake level (259 mg/day) among all subgroups. Over 90% of Chinese adult tea drinkers have caffeine intake under 400 mg/day.

Dissipative behavior, residual pattern, and risk assessment of four pesticides and their metabolites during tea cultivation, processing and infusion.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, metabolic products of pesticides have gained much attention due to their substantial characteristics as organic pollutants. So far, the behavior and metabolite levels of pesticide metabolites in crops have not been characterized well. In the present study, four registered pesticides (imidacloprid, diafenthiuron, malathion and chlorothalonil) were applied on tea plants in Fujian and Sichuan to characterize their metabolites residue pattern and dietary risk. RESULTS: Four pesticides dissipated first-order kinetics in the fresh tea leaves with the half-lives of 1.4-3.8 days. Nine metabolites were detected in the fresh tea leaves and green tea after processing. The metabolites residues showed an increasing trend first and then declined after treatment, and reached the maximum near the half-lives of pesticide. Compared with the parent pesticide, the total residue and acute risk (included the metabolites) increased by 1.7-105.2 times. Some metabolites, especially those whose parent pesticides have high water solubility and low Log Kow, will be more easily transferred to tea infusion. CONCLUSION: Pesticides were metabolized rapidly on tea plants after application, but the production of metabolites increased the health risk of tea consumption. These results could provide insights to use the pesticides in tea gardens and risk monitoring after application. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Residue degradation, transfer and risk assessment of pyriproxyfen and its metabolites from tea garden to cup by ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: Tea is one of the most popular drinks in the world. The growth of tea plant is inseparable from the control of pesticides on diseases and pests. Pyriproxyfen is used as a pesticide substitute to control insect pests in tea gardens, but little is known about its residue degradation. Here, we performed an integrative study of the degradation and metabolism of pyriproxyfen from the tea garden to the cup. RESULTS: The dissipation half-life of pyriproxyfen during tea growth was 2.74 days, and five metabolites PYPAC, PYPA, DPH-Pyr, 5''-OH-Pyr, and 4'-OH-Pyr were generated. The total processing factors for pyriproxyfen in green tea and black tea were 2.41-2.83 and 2.77-3.70, respectively. The residues of pyriproxyfen and its metabolites were affected by different processing steps. The total leaching rates of pyriproxyfen from green tea and black tea into their infusions were 9.8-12.3% and 5.3-13.8%, respectively. The leaching rates of the five metabolites were higher than that of pyriproxyfen and increased the intake risk. CONCLUSION: To ensure safe consumption, the recommended maximum residue limit value of pyriproxyfen in tea can be set to 5 mg kg-1 and the pre-harvest interval can be set to 5 days. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Trace Elements from Drinking Black and Green Tea Marketed in Three Countries.

Although tea can be beneficial for our health, consuming excess trace elements in tea can be harmful. In this study, the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic health risk for trace elements in tea influenced by the country of origin, tea type, and infusion process was assessed. Tea (Camellia sinensis) purchased from China, India, and the USA, including black and green tea, were analyzed for essential micronutrients (Cu, Se, and Zn) and nonessential trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, and Pb) in leaves and three types of infusions. The results showed that country of origin, tea type, and infusion process had a significant influence on the trace element contents in tea leaves and infusions, also on health risk. Country of origin had a significant influence on Ba, Cr, Pb, and Zn contents in tea leaves and on As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn contents in tea infusions. Black tea had significantly higher (p < 0.05) Cr and Cu content in tea leaves than green tea, but only Cr content was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of green tea in tea infusion. The trace element contents were the highest in the first infusion and decreased as the number of infusion steps increased. The results showed that the consumption of tea infusion was not likely to cause noncarcinogenic risk. However, the carcinogenic risk for As was of concern. Our results indicate that avoiding drinking the first infusion can help to reduce both carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic health risks for trace elements.

Exposure Assessment of Fluoride Intake Through Commercially Available Black Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) from Areas with High Incidences of Chronic Kidney Disease with Undetermined Origin (CKDu) in Sri Lanka.

Fluoride is a beneficial trace element for human health as its deficiency and excess levels can cause detrimental health effects. In Sri Lanka, dry zone regions can have excessive levels of fluoride in drinking water and can cause dental and skeletal fluorosis. In addition to drinking water, traditional habits of tea consumption can cause an additional intake of fluoride in the population. A total number of 39 locally blended black tea samples were collected from a village where chronic kidney disease with undetermined origin (CKDu) is prevalent. In addition, unblended tea samples were obtained from tea-producing factories. The fluoride contents in infusions of 2% weight per volume (w/v) were measured using calibrated ion-selective fluoride electrodes. The mean fluoride content was 2.68±1.03 mg/L in loose tea, 1.87±0.57mg/L in packed tea samples, and 1.14±0.55 mg/L in unblended tea. Repeated brewing of the same tea leaves showed that over 50% of fluoride leached into the solution in the first infusion. An estimate of the daily total average fluoride intake via tea consumption per person is 2.68 mg per day. With groundwater in many dry zone regions in Sri Lanka showing high fluoride levels that exceed 0.5 mg/L, the additional daily intake can rapidly exceed recommended thresholds of 2 mg/day. This can add to adverse health impacts that might also relate to CKDu.

The performance of water-soluble fluoride transformation in soil-tea-tea infusion chain system and the potential health risk assessment.

BACKGROUND: Water-soluble fluoride (WS-F) can be absorbed directly by tea plants from soil and comprises a major source of dietary F in tea consumers. To reveal the WS-F accumulation in tea leaves and assess WS-F health risks, 70 sets of samples including tea leaves at three maturity stages and corresponding topsoil were collected from Xinyang, China. The WS-F contents in tea samples and pH values in soil samples were determined. RESULTS: The contents of WS-F in tea leaves exhibited a positive correlation with leaf maturity. The contents of WS-F in tea leaves showed a positive correlation with WS-F contents in the soil as the soil pH value exceeds 5. All the bud with two leaves samples, 84.29% of the third to sixth leaves samples, and 78.57% mature leaves samples in 5-min infusion tend to be no health threat. The leaching characteristics of WS-F from tea leaves were influenced by the leaf maturity and soaking time. CONCLUSION: Taking measures to control pH and WS-F concentration of plantations soil, as well as drinking tea infusion made from young leaves or reducing soaking time could decrease the WS-F health risk. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Application of BRAFO-tiered approach for health benefit-risk assessment of dark tea consumption in China.

Dark tea, a unique tea fermented primarily in China, has numerous potential beneficial effects. However, harmful substances present in dark tea have provoked significant concern. To conduct a quantitative benefit-risk assessment of dark tea for Chinese residents and provide guidance on rational consumption, a framework of Benefit-Risk Analysis for Foods (BRAFO) and meta-analysis was applied to construct a disability-adjusted life year (DALY). Based on the BRAFO-tiered approach, a reference scenario (no intake) and an alternative scenario (intake of 3 cups/day) were determined. The overall health impacts of dark tea were simulated by comparing the risks of fluoride and AF with benefits of reduced-risk to coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes in different scenarios. Three cups of fermented tea consumed per day decreased risks of CHD and diabetes by 8.16% and 12.77% respectively. After quantitative integration of information, the ultimate net health effect was found to be -1958.827 illustrating that the benefits of drinking three cups of dark tea per day outweigh the risks. However, considering the uncertainties in the process, decision-makers should proceed with caution, consulting additional well-conducted studies and further managing harmful substances in dark tea.