Zhuang Zhong, Mi Zidong, Kong Lingxuan, Wang Qi, Schweiger Andreas H, Wan Yanan, Li Huafen
Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions of the Ministry of Education, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China.
Institute of Landscape and Plant Ecology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
Sci Total Environ. 2022 Dec 10;851(Pt 1):158018. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158018. Epub 2022 Aug 18.
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.
茶（茶树）是一种广受欢迎的饮品，全球各地的人都有饮用。然而，为了将对人体健康的风险降至最低，有必要更好地了解茶叶及其冲泡液中潜在有毒元素（PTEs）的含量。因此，在中国收集了涵盖六种茶的249份茶叶样本（来自不同地区），以调查PTEs含量、确定其潜在来源并评估与饮茶相关的健康风险。六种茶叶类型中PTEs的含量分别为：镉（Cd）未检出-0.900毫克/千克、砷（As）0.005-2.133毫克/千克、铅（Pb）未检出-5.679毫克/千克、铬（Cr）未检出-13.86毫克/千克、镍（Ni）1.601-22.93毫克/千克、硒（Se）未检出-2.048毫克/千克、氟（F）0.109-622.4毫克/千克、铷（Rb）13.02-269.9毫克/千克、锶（Sr）1.845-50.88毫克/千克、钡（Ba）2.796-53.23毫克/千克。茶叶冲泡液的结果表明，氟的释放率为：绿茶14.3%-44.1%、红茶14.5%-46.7%、黑茶10.5%-25.3%、乌龙茶13.6%-34.2%、黄茶16.9%-40.7%、白茶19.9%-35.1%。除绿茶外，所有茶类的茶叶冲泡液中镉、砷、铅和铬的浸出率相对较低。源解析表明茶叶中的PTEs主要来源于土壤母质，而工业活动、施肥和制造过程可能导致外源硒、镉、砷和铬的积累。健康风险评估表明，茶叶冲泡液中的氟对健康风险起主导作用。与其他茶类相比，饮用绿茶可能使人类面临更高的健康风险。然而，长期饮茶不太可能导致明显的非致癌和致癌风险。本研究证实饮茶是人体摄入PTEs的一个重要且直接的途径。与饮茶相关的健康风险应引起关注。
