A probabilistic health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in edible vegetable oils consumed in Hamadan, Iran.

In this study, potential toxic element (PTEs) including lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium(Cd), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in traditional and industrial edible vegetable oils (peanut, sunflower, olive and sesame) collected from Hamadan, west of Iran were determined using Inductivity Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Besides, probabilistic health risk assessment (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks) was identified via total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) and cancer risk (CR) by the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) model. The ranking of concentration PTEs in traditional and industrial edible vegetable oils was Fe > Zn > As > Pb > Cd. The in all samples, content of PTEs in industrial oils were upper than traditional oils (p < 0.001). The level of PTEs in most of vegetable oils was lower than permissible concentration regulated by Codex and national standard. In term of non-carcinogenic, consumers were at acceptable range (TTHQ < 1) due to ingestion both traditional and industrial vegetable oils content of PTEs. In term of carcinogenic, CR the both adults and children was higher than acceptable range (CR < 1E-6), Hence consumer are at unacceptable risk due to ingestion industrial vegetable oils content of inorganic As. Therefore, it is recommended to implement control plans for PTEs in vegetable oils consumed in Hamadan, Iran.

Concentration of Potentially Toxic Elements in Vegetable Oils and Health Risk Assessment: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The present study evaluates the concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), including Pb, Cd, As, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Ni, in vegetable oils through a meta-analytic approach. The published studies in relation to the concentrations of PTEs in vegetable oils were retrieved from major international databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase followed by meta-analysis. Moreover, the health risk assessment was evaluated using total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) by a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) model. According to the results of 51 articles included among 958 retrieved studies, the concentrations of the PTEs were as follows: Cd ≈As (0.110 mg/kg) > Pb (0.086 mg/kg) in cottonseed, canola, and olive oil and Fe (12.964 mg/kg) > Zn (1.044 mg/kg) > Ni (0.893 mg/kg) > Cu (0.264 mg/kg) in cottonseed, olive, and soybean for trace elementals, respectively. Based on the continent type, the higher concentration of Cd, As, and Pb was related to PAHO (American region) and AFRO (African region), and the higher concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu, and Ni were observed in WPRO (Western Pacific Region), EMRO (Eastern Mediterranean Region), and AFRO. On the other hand, non-carcinogenic health risk assessment of the PTEs indicated that there was a different risk pattern in various countries, and the TTHQ level in adult groups was lower than 1. It can be concluded that the consumption of vegetable oils is safe and does not pose risk to the health of consumers.

Evaluation of the hepatoprotective effects of curcumin and nanocurcumin against paraquat-induced liver injury in rats: Modulation of oxidative stress and Nrf2 pathway.

Paraquat (PQ) is a widely used herbicide all over the world, which is highly toxic for animals and humans. Its cytotoxicity is based on reactive radical generation. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the hepatoprotective effects of curcumin and nanocurcumin against liver damage caused by sub-acute exposure with PQ via modulation of oxidative stress and genes expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. Rats were exposed to PQ (5 mg/kg/day, orally) + curcumin or nanocurcumin (100 mg/kg/day, orally) for 7 days. Then rats were anesthetized and serum and liver samples were collected. Next, serum enzymatic activities, liver histopathology, oxidative stress, and expression of genes involved in Nrf2 signaling pathway were assessed by biochemical and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. PQ significantly increased malondialdehyde, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase levels, and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 gene expression and also decreased total antioxidant capacity, total thiol group levels, Glutathione S-transferases, heme oxygenase 1, Nrf2, and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 genes expression, causing histological damages to liver tissue. These changes were significantly modulated by curcumin and nanocurcumin treatments. Our findings showed that nanocurcumin had better hepatoprotective effect than curcumin in liver damage after PQ exposure most likely through modulation of oxidative stress and genes expression of Nrf2 pathway.

Simultaneous multi-determination of pesticide residues in black tea leaves and infusion: a risk assessment study.

This study aimed to investigate the concentration of 33 pesticide residues in 60 black tea samples collected from Iran, determine their transfer rate, and assess their health risk during brewing. Pesticide extraction and analysis were performed by using a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method and gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) and the limits of quantification (LOQ) of pesticides were ranged 0.1-7.26 and 0.8-24 µg/kg for dried tea leaves and 0.03-3.1 and 0.09-10 µg/L for the tea infusion, respectively. The levels of pesticide residue in 52 (86.67%) out of 60 tea samples were above the LOD (0.1-7.26 µg/kg). Twenty four (40%) of the samples contained pesticides in a concentration higher than the maximum residue limit (MRL) set by the European Commission (EC). Seven out of 33 validated pesticides were detected in dried tea leaf samples that only four of seven, including buprofezin, chlorpyrifos, hexaconazole, and triflumizole, were transferred into tea infusion, demonstrating that the concentrations of pesticides in infusion were raised during brewing. The risk assessment study for detected pesticides in the tea infusion samples indicated that this beverage consumption was safe for consumers, while the mean residue of some pesticides in positive samples was higher than the MRL; therefore, periodic control of these pesticides should be regularly implemented.