Variation in heavy metals and microelements in South African medicinal plants obtained from street markets

South African medicinal plants are traditionally harvested from a wide range of undisclosed locations by plant gatherers. Thus, there is a risk that plant material may be exposed to a variety of pollutants. The variation in five heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, nickel, and lead) and six essential elements (boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc) was determined in commonly used South African medicinal plants obtained from street markets. Elemental content was determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometry. The reliability of the procedure was ensured by analysing a certified reference material. Medicinal plant samples contained arsenic and cadmium at levels exceeding the World Health Organization limits of 1 and 0.3 mg kg(-1) respectively. Lead and nickel were detected in all samples. Elevated iron and manganese levels were recorded in certain plant species. Multiple metal contamination of parts of medicinal plants gives grounds for concern. This study emphasizes the unsafe consequences of the South African practice of collecting medicinal plants from undisclosed locations and making these readily available to the public.     

Determination of cadmium and selected micronutrients in commonly used and traded medicinal plants in Turkey

BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants commonly used and traded in Turkey were monitored for their cadmium and selected micronutrient (copper, iron, manganese and zinc) content. RESULTS: Cadmium was not detected in any sample of licorice extract, linden flowers or nettle leaves. However, in the rest of the samples, cadmium was found in the range of 7–126 µg kg^?1, with the highest concentration in chamomile leaf. Of all the monitored trace elements, the highest concentration found was 520 mg kg^?1 iron in zahter. The highest copper, manganese and zinc concentrations were found in rose hips (24 mg kg^?1), Turkish oregano (58 mg kg^?1) and zahter (50 mg kg^?1), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study reveal that cadmium and trace element concentrations in medicinal plants commonly used as traditional medicines in Turkey are well below the critical levels. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Heavy metal concentrations in raw milk collected from different regions of Samsun,Turkey

In this study, 144 raw milk samples were analysed for heavy metal contamination derived from emissions from industrial operations in Tekkekoy, Samsun, Turkey. Cu, Fe, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, As and Pb levels in samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). The average amounts of copper, chromium, iron, zinc, nickel, cadmium, arsenic and lead were determined as 1.130, 0.441, 12.920, 0.032, 0.483, 0.006, 0.003 and 0.004 mg/kg, respectively. It was determined that the summer period has the highest levels for copper, lead and cadmium. The highest contents of arsenic and copper were found at the two industrial regions that were close to Black Sea, described as ‘1st’ and ‘2nd’ region. Whereas the 3rd and 4th regions that were far from an industrial zone and also from the Black Sea, nickel, lead and chromium had the highest levels.     

Trace metal content of livers and kidneys of cattle

Results are presented for the levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium and zinc, as determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, in the livers and kidneys of 190 cattle from eight different locations in New South Wales. The mean and range for each of the trace metals, in parts 10^?6, in livers and kidneys, respectively were as follows: arsenic 0.013 (n.d.?0.09) and 0.018 (n.d.?0.10); cadmium 0.08 (n.d.?0.80) and 0.43(0.02–10.7); chromium 0.05 (n.d.-1.0) and 0.03 (n.d.?0.22); cobalt 0.07 (n.d.?0.45) and 0.03 (n.d.?0.25); copper 18.0(0.81–82.8) and 3.9 (1.84–9.2); lead 0.14(n.d.?0.85) and 0.22(n.d.-2.29); manganese 2.72(1.11–4.09) and 1.07(0.58–1.67); mercury 0.005 (n.d.?0.050) and 0.006 (n.d.?0.177); molybdenum 0.88 (n.d.-2.41) and 0.31 (n.d.-1.85); nickel 0.33 (n.d.-4.82) and 0.46 (n.d.-5.80); selenium 0.17(0.01–0.63) and 1.10 (0.47–1.77); zinc 37.5 (13.4–99.2) and 18.6 (12.9–31.6). Significant differences were observed in the trace metal levels in livers and kidneys from the different regions of the State and between the trace metal levels in livers and kidneys from the same region. The accuracy of the methods was confirmed by analysis of NBS No. 1577 Bovine Liver.     

From durum wheat to pasta: effect of technological processing on the levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead and nickel--a pilot study.

A study was undertaken to investigate the effect of technological processing in pasta-making on the content of arsenic, cadmium, lead and nickel. Milling of durum wheat as well as further processing were carried out in a pilot plant. Commercial pasta samples purchased from the local market were also included for comparison. Furthermore, the effect of cooking was investigated to gain information on the actual content of the selected elements in the final ready-to-eat product. Analyte concentrations in whole grain, semolina, pasta and cooked pasta were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Milling reduced the element content in the order nickel > arsenic > cadmium > lead. In the experimental conditions of this study, slight contamination by atmospheric lead in milling/pasta-making and release of nickel during pasta-making were observed. These issues have evidently been effectively dealt with in industrial processing given that remarkably lower levels of lead and nickel were found in commercial pastas compared with the experimental samples. On the whole, commercial pasta samples showed low average levels of all the elements included in this study. Cooking caused a significant decrease of the element content in all pasta samples, with average losses of 50-60% on a dry weight basis.     

吉林省部分市售小麦粉中20种金属元素的含量分析

目的研究吉林省部分市售小麦粉中Fe、Ag、Al、As、Ba、Be、Cd、Co、Cr、Cu、Mn、Mo、Ni、Pb、Sb、Se、Tl、V、Zn、U等20种金属元素的含量情况,有助于摸清小麦粉中各元素的本底及污染情况,为吉林省食品安全监管提供科学依据。方法收集吉林省9市州样本共计72份,用微波消解前处理-电感耦合等离子体质谱(inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry,ICP-MS)测定样品中各元素含量。结果检测72份小麦粉中20种金属元素,除Be、Ag、Sb、TI、U 5种元素未检出外,其余各元素的检出平均值依次为Fe(11.1mg/kg)、Zn(5.77 mg/kg)、Mn(5.12 mg/kg)、Al(3.33 mg/kg)、Cu(1.36 mg/kg)、Ba(0.59 mg/kg)、Mo(0.23 mg/kg)、Co(0.16 mg/kg)、Cr(0.10 mg/kg)、Ni(0.080 mg/kg)、Se(0.075 mg/kg)、Pb(0.027 mg/kg)、V(0.025 mg/kg)、As(0.021 mg/kg)、Cd(0.013 mg/kg)。Cr、As、Cd、Pb含量合格率100%。结论小麦粉中金属元素未发现有超标现象,可以正常食用,对于元素铅的普遍检出问题及个别样品中铅检出值较高问题应引起重视。     

Trace metal content of chicken eggs.

Results are presented for the levels of cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel and zinc in each of 100 shelled chicken egg samples, as determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The range and mean for each of the trace metals are as follows: cadmium, n.d. to 0.03 and 0.01 parts/million; chromium, n.d. to 0.15 and 0.06 parts/million; cobalt, n.d. to 0.06 and 0.03 parts/million; copper, 0.54 to 0.88 and 0.66 parts/million; iron, 17.1 to 27.5 and 21.5 parts/million; lead, n.d. to 0.08 and 0.01 parts/million; manganese, 0.14 to 0.53 and 0.29 parts/million; mercury, 0.001 to 0.023 and 0.006 parts/million; nickel, n.d. to 0.35 and 0.04 parts/million; zinc, 10.7 to 18.4 and 14.6 parts/million. No apparent differences were observed among the different regions of the country.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法检测进口清酒中 20种矿物元素

目的建立进口清酒中钠、镁、铝、钾、钙、铬、锰、铁、钴、镍、铜、锌、砷、硒、锶、银、镉、钡、汞、铅20种元素的电感耦合等离子体质谱快速测定法。方法以硝酸处理进口清酒样品,通过超声排除产生的氮氧化物黄色气体,再以超纯水稀释,使用电感耦合等离子体质谱测定清酒中20种元素的含量。结果实验回收率在92.4%~109%之间,RSD为2.10%~5.92%,检出限分别为:钠、钙为1.0 mg/L,,钾为0.5 mg/L,铝、镁、铁、锌为0.1mg/L,钡为0.05 mg/L,铬、锰、钴、镍、铜、砷、硒、锶、银、镉、汞、铅为0.01 mg/L,线性范围分别为:钠、钙为3.0~200 mg/L,钾为1.5~200mg/L,铝、镁、铁和锌为0.3~10.0 mg/L,钡为0.15~10.0mg/L,铬、锰、钴、镍、铜、砷、硒、锶、银、镉和铅为0.03~10.0 mg/L,汞为0.03~0.20 mg/L。结论该检测方法操作简便、快速、灵敏度高、重新性好,适用于进口清酒样品的多元素同时检测。     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定小麦粉13种重金属元素

为建立电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定小麦粉13种重金属元素含量的方法,以4种小麦粉为试材,用微波消解法对样品进行前处理,利用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪进行测定。结果表明:该方法检出限为0.022~0.670 μg/L,各元素标准曲线相关系数高于0.9992,相关性良好;元素加标回收率在88.00%~107.38%之间;4种样品Al、Mn、Fe、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、Se的检出平均值在0.004~8.615 mg/kg之间,Ag、Cr、As检出值分别为0.186、0.142、0.015 mg/kg,Cd、Pb均未检出,盲检样所检出元素含量均在所给定范围内。该法具有检测快捷、灵敏度高、精确度良好、结果准确的特点,可为小麦粉重金属检测提供参考。     

Manganese, nickel, selenium and cadmium in molluscs from the Magellan Strait, Chile.

The concentrations of manganese, selenium, nickel and cadmium were determined in 112 samples of molluscs belonging to mussels (Mytilus chilensis, n = 47) and limpets (Nacella deaurata, n = 65), which were collected from the coastline of the Magellan Strait, Chile. Four (6.2%) samples of limpets exceeded the maximum limits for cadmium established in Europe. Limpets showed higher mean manganese, nickel and cadmium concentrations than mussels, whilst the mean selenium concentration in mussels was higher. The consumption of one serving (100 g) of molluscs represents a considerable contribution to the dietary daily intake of selenium, and limpets make a significant contribution to the manganese and cadmium intakes. The sampling zone influenced the trace element concentrations, and different uptakes were observed between the mollusc species.     

不同浓度海水灌溉对库拉索芦荟中微量元素的影响

采用原子吸收分光光度法分析了不同浓度海水灌溉的3年生库拉索芦荟中Ca、Mg、Na、K、Mn、Zn、Fe、Cu、Ni、Pb、Cd、Cr共12种微量元素的含量。试验发现:各元素在芦荟中的含量差异较大,其中,Ca、Mg、Na、K含量丰富,Mn、Zn、Fe含量中等,而有毒重金属离子Cu、Ni、Pb、Cd、Cr含量很低;无论是凝胶还是全叶中,海水浓度对库拉索芦荟中Ca、Mn元素的影响很大,对其他各种元素的影响不大,但Cd离子的含量随海水灌溉浓度的升高呈略微上升趋势。     

Determination of Cd,Co, Cu,Fe, Pb,Mn, Ni and Zn in diets: Development of a method

A method useful for the determination of cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel and zinc in diets is described. Organic matter is destroyed applying a wet procedure, and element content is measured by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) in the case of copper, iron, manganese, nickel and zinc, and by graphite furnace (GF-AAS) in the case of cadmium, cobalt and lead. The matrix interference study is carried out. Values found for linearity, detection and quantitation limits as well as accuracy show that the described method is useful to determine the elements taken into account at usual levels in diets.     

Determination of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni and Zn in diets: development of a method.

A method useful for the determination of cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel and zinc in diets is described. Organic matter is destroyed applying a wet procedure, and element content is measured by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) in the case of copper, iron, manganese, nickel and zinc, and by graphite furnace (GF-AAS) in the case of cadmium, cobalt and lead. The matrix interference study is carried out. Values found for linearity, detection and quantitation limits as well as accuracy show that the described method is useful to determine the elements taken into account at usual levels in diets.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定花草茶中11种金属元素

本研究应用微波消解对花草茶进行前处理,使用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪对铬、钴、镍、铜、砷、铅、镉、锰、铁、锌、锶等11种元素进行同时测定。采用内标法,对各个元素的检出限,线性范围进行了研究,并进行了加标回收和精密度试验。结果表明:该方法简便、快速、准确,适于花草茶中多种金属元素的同时测定。     

Trace metals in flatfish from the southern Baltic, 1983

The cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, iron, manganese, and nickel concentrations have been determined in muscle tissue of 35 turbot Psetta maxima, 27 plaice Pleuronectes platessa and 103 flounders Platichthys flesus netted in 1983 in a different regions in the southern part of the Baltic Sea. The method of measurement was atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. The mean values obtained for turbot, plaice and flounder were 0.012, 0.009 and 0.013 for cadmium, 0.16, 0.17 and 0.12 for lead, 0.15, 0.14 and 0.18 for copper, 5.0, 4.5 and 4.4 for zinc, 2.2, 1.9 and 3.4 for iron, 0.14, 0.087 and 0.14 for manganese, and 0.24, 0.19 and 0.14 for nickel (mg/kg wet weight), respectively. The contents of cadmium and lead in muscles of flatfish examined appear to be generally low and poses no threat for human consumption.     

不同材质的一次性生物基餐具中22种元素迁移及其安全风险分析

目的 分析39个聚乳酸(polylactic acid, PLA)基、淀粉基、纤维基材质的一次性生物基餐具中的22种元素迁移,并评估其安全风险。方法 样品经迁移实验得到迁移液,使用电感耦合等离子体质谱法对迁移液中的22种元素进行分析。结果 锑、铊未检出, 20种元素(铍、硼、镁、铝、钛、钒、铬、锰、铁、钴、镍、铜、锌、镓、砷、锶、镉、锡、钡、铅)均有检出,其中铝、锰、锌、镓、锶、钡迁移的检出率为100%。各元素迁移量范围为1.0×10^-4～6.9×10¹ mg/kg,镁的平均迁移量最高为3.5 mg/kg。22种元素在PLA基与淀粉基制品中的迁移水平整体低于纤维基制品且不存在元素迁移的安全风险。纤维基样品中铝、铬、锰、锌、铅超出特定迁移限量,锌、镉、铅的日暴露量可能存在潜在的安全风险,而且还出现了多个金属元素迁移同时超标的现象。结论 部分纤维基样品中金属迁移存在超标现象及潜在安全风险,需要重点对纤维基样品的金属迁移加强关注和监管。本研究为不同材质一次性生物基餐具中金属迁移的安全性研究及监管提供了科学依据。     

Cadmium, mercury, iron, copper, manganese and zinc in the liver and kidney of the Icelandic lamb

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the levels of cadmium, mercury, iron, copper, manganese and zinc in lamb liver and kidney from six areas in Iceland and to compare the results against aerial deposition data for the same elements obtained using moss as an indicator organism. The total number of samples was 96 for each organ. Cadmium was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry, mercury by coldvapour atomic absorption, and iron, copper, manganese and zinc by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry. Analysis of variance determined significance differences among means for areas, and Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to study correlation among trace elements in liver and kidney. The mean fresh weight concentrations in lamb liver and kidney respectively were 0.045 and 0.058mg kg -1 for cadmium, 0.009 and 0.012mgkg -1 for mercury, 141 and 52.7mgkg -1 for iron, 28.1 and 2.89mgkg -1 for copper, 4.01 and 1.13mgkg -1 for manganese and 48.7 and 25.2mgkg -1 for zinc. Concentrations of cadmium, mercury and copper in the liver and kidney of the Icelandic lamb were low compared with data from other countries. Iron concentrations in the organs, however, were high. No sample exceeded 46% of the proposed maximum level for cadmium in organs for human consumption in the EC. Cadmium, mercury, iron and copper in the liver and kidney differed significantly between areas. Deposition of cadmium and copper in moss was not a useful indicator in the evaluation of the susceptibility of the Icelandic lamb to accumulation of cadmium and cop per. However, iron levels in Icelandic lamb liver showed the same pattern as results for iron from the moss study. The cadmium and mercury levels of organs from lambs grazing in the vicinity of Mount Hekla a few months after its eruption did not indicate a significant contamination from volcanic activity.     

Trace metal content in nine species of fish from the Black and Aegean Seas,Turkey

Trace metal content of nine fish species harvested from the Black and Aegean Seas were determined by microwave digestion and atomic absorption spectroscopy (MD–AAS). Verification of the MD–AAS method was demonstrated by analysis of standard reference material (NRCC-DORM-2 dogfish muscle). Trace metal content in fish samples were 0.73–1.83 μg/g for copper, 0.45–0.90 μg/g for cadmium, 0.33–0.93 μg/g for lead, 35.4–106 μg/g for zinc, 1.28–7.40 μg/g for manganese, 68.6–163 μg/g for iron, 0.95–1.98 μg/g for chromium, and 1.92–5.68 μg/g for nickel. The levels of lead and cadmium in fish samples were higher than the recommended legal limits for human consumption.     

Distribution of some essential trace elements in commercial flour-mill streams

The iron, copper, zinc, manganese, chromium, nickel, selenium, protein and ash contents of two different bread grists and flour samples from the first to fourth break and A to J reduction systems of a commercial flour mill were determined. Iron, zinc, manganese and selenium levels followed the trend of ash and protein with the lowest from the A, B and C rolls and highest from either the fourth break or J roll. Copper and chromium levels were relatively homogeneous among the grist and mill streams while for nickel there was only a slight increase through the break and reduction systems.     

Determination of toxic and essential elements in sunflower honey from Thrace Region,Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and selenium (Se) in sunflower honeys obtained from Thrace Region of Turkey. Trace and toxic element determination was performed by atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave digestion. The accuracy of the method was checked by the standard reference material, NIST‐SRM 1515 Apple leaves. The maximum contents of trace and toxic elements in honey samples from Kesan (polluted area) were found as 0.46, 0.82, 1.98, 14.0, 9.86 μg kg^?1, 0.48 mg kg^?1, 137, 115 and 290 μg kg^?1 for Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni and Se, respectively.