Kowalska Grażyna
Department of Tourism and Recreation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 15 Akademicka Street, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 May 27;18(11):5779. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18115779.
The presented study was aimed at the determination of the level of contamination with heavy metals (Cd, Pb, As, and Hg) in 240 samples of plant materials, i.e., herbal raw materials, spices, tea, and coffee. Moreover, a probabilistic risk assessment (noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks) was estimated by models including target hazard quotient (THQ) and cancer risk (CR). The samples were subjected to microwave mineralisation with the use of HNO (65%), while the determination of the content of the elements was performed with the use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and a mercury analyser. The element which was characterised by the highest level of accumulation in the analysed samples was lead (from 0.010 to 5.680 mg/kg). Among the heavy metals under analysis, the lowest concentration was noted in the case of mercury (from 0.005 to 0.030 mg/kg). A notably higher level of contamination with heavy metals was noted in the analysed samples of herbs and spices (0.005-5.680 mg/kg), compared to samples of tea and coffee (0.005-0.791 mg/kg). According to the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) concerning the limits of contamination of samples of herbal raw materials with heavy metals, lead levels exceeding the limits were only noted in 24 samples of herbs (18%). In all of the analysed samples of spices, tea, and coffee, no instances of exceeded limits were noted for any of the analysed heavy metals. The values of TTHQmax (in relation to the consumption of the analysed products) were as follows: up to 4.23 × 10 for spices, up to 2.51 × 10 for herbs, up to 4.03 × 10 for China tea, and up to 1.25 × 10 for roasted coffee beans. As the value of THQ ≤1, there is no probability of the appearance of undesirable effects related to the consumption of the analysed group of raw materials and products of plant origin. The CR value for As (max. value) was 1.29 × 10, which is lower than the maximum acceptable level of 1 × 10 suggested by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
本研究旨在测定240份植物材料样本（即草药原料、香料、茶和咖啡）中的重金属（镉、铅、砷和汞）污染水平。此外，通过包括目标危害商数（THQ）和癌症风险（CR）的模型进行了概率风险评估（非致癌和致癌风险）。样本采用65%的硝酸进行微波消解，而元素含量的测定则使用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪（ICP-MS）和汞分析仪。在所分析的样本中，积累水平最高的元素是铅（0.010至5.680毫克/千克）。在所分析的重金属中，汞的浓度最低（0.005至0.030毫克/千克）。与茶和咖啡样本（0.005至0.791毫克/千克）相比，在所分析的草药和香料样本（0.005至5.680毫克/千克）中，重金属污染水平明显更高。根据世界卫生组织（WHO）关于草药原料样本重金属污染限值的指导方针，仅在24份草药样本（18%）中发现铅含量超过限值。在所有分析的香料、茶和咖啡样本中，未发现任何分析的重金属有超标情况。TTHQmax（相对于所分析产品的消费量）的值如下：香料高达4.23×10，草药高达2.51×10，中国茶高达4.03×10，烘焙咖啡豆高达1.25×10。由于THQ值≤1，食用所分析的植物源性原料和产品组不会出现不良影响。砷的CR值（最大值）为1.29×10，低于美国环境保护局（USEPA）建议的最大可接受水平1×10。
