The preliminary survey on the concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in salt samples collected from Tehran, Iran: a probabilistic health risk assessment.

The present study aimed to assess the potentially toxic elements (PTEs), including copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) in refined, rock, and sea salt samples collected (n=60) from Tehran's local market by the aid of an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Besides, the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks for children and adults were estimated with the aid of the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method. The rank order of PTEs in refined salt was Pb (13.378 µg/g) > Cu (6.448 µg/g) > Zn (0.363 µg/g) > As (0.184 µg/g) > Hg (0.049 µg/g); in sea salt was Pb (22.972 µg/g) > Cu (3.963 µg/g) > Zn (0.986 µg/g) > As (0.387 µg/g) > Hg (0.224 µg/g); and in rock salt was Cu (31.622 µg/g) > Pb (22.527 µg/g) > Zn (0.638 µg/g) > As (0.235 µg/g) > Hg (0.095 µg/g). It was concluded that the average concentration of some of the investigated PTEs was higher than the national standard limits and Codex's guidelines. A significant non-carcinogenic risk (TTHQ > 1), except for adult consumers, was noted based on the health risk assessment who consume refined salt. All consumers were also at the threshold carcinogenic risk of As (between 10-4 and 10-6). Given the considerable health risks due to consumption (refined, rock, and sea salt), approaching effective monitoring plans to control the PTEs concentrations in salt distributed in Tehran are recommended.

Liver condemnation and economic losses due to parasitic infections in slaughtered animals in Iran.

The prevalences of parasitic infections responsible for the condemnation of liver during meat inspection, and their economic implication were estimated in slaughtered animals in Iran. The liver organ was examined for the presence of parasitic lesions during meat inspection in cattle, camel, buffalo, sheep and goat. The parasitic agents observed in the condemned livers of these animals were Fasciola spp., Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Cysticercus tenuicollis and hydatid cyst. The average percentages of liver condemnation for three years period by Fasciola spp., D. dendriticum, Cysticerci and hydatid cyst were 2.12, 2.71, 0.04, and 2.88 %, respectively. The mean prevalence of Fasciola spp. in cattle, sheep, goat, camel and buffalo was 4.32, 1.85, 1.56, 1.31 and 9.31 %, respectively and the mean prevalence of D. dendriticum in those animals were 3.65, 2.66, 2.19, 5.09 and 3.90 %, respectively. Also, the mean prevalence of Cysticerci and hydatid cyst were 0.13 and 3.72 % in cattle, 0.04 and 2.85 % in sheep, 0.05 and 2.40 % in goat, 0.02 and 8.22 % in camel and 0.001 and 5.48 % in buffalo, respectively. The most contributing parasites to marketable liver condemnation were hydatid cyst in sheep, goat and camel and Fasciola spp. in cattle and buffalo, and the average annual cost for condemned livers was 8.2 million USD.