Human health risk assessment of aluminium via consumption of contaminated vegetables
Main Article Content
Keywords
aluminium, food safety, green leafy vegetables, health risk
Abstract
The third most abundant metal in the earth crust is aluminium (Al). Contamination of vegetables with Al poses a threat to human health, therefore it is essential to measure the amount of this metal in edible parts of vegetables and evaluate the possible health risks to human body through the food chain. Eight types of vegetables that are commonly used in Iranian dishes including spinach, fenugreek, parsley, cress, allium, radish, tarragon and coriander were collected from agricultural sites of Markazi province, Iran. These vegetables were oven dried and acid digested and then they were analysed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy for the Al content. The results indicated that the average concentration of Al was between 3,719.73±1,652.6 and 166.42±24.62 in Spinach and Fenugreek respectively. Based on transfer factor of Al, it can be inferred that soil condition has an important effect on uptake of metal by plants. Although the soil was contaminated with Al and vegetables can uptake this metal from soil, there was no significant health risk associated with the contaminated vegetables.
References
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Amirah, M.N., Afiza, A.S., Faizal, W.I.W., Nurliyana, M.H. and Laili, S., 2013. Human health risk assessment of metal contamination through consumption of fish. Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health 1: 1-5.
Bortey-Sam, N., Nakayama, S.M.M., Akoto, O., Ikenaka, Y., Fobil, J.N., Baidoo, E., Mizukawa, H. and Ishizuka, M., 2015. Accumulation of heavy metals and metalloid in foodstuffs from agricultural soils around Tarkwa area in Ghana, and associated human health risks. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 12: 8811-8827.
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De Sole, P., Rossi, C., Chiarpotto, M., Ciasca, G., Bocca, B., Alimonti, A., Bizzarro, A., Rossi, C. and Masullo, C., 2013. Possible relationship between Al/ferritin complex and Alzheimer’s disease. Clinical Biochemistry 46: 89-93.
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Exley, C., 2013. Human exposure to aluminium. Environmental Science: processes and Impacts 15: 1807-1816.
Farahani, S., Eshghi, N., Abbasi, A., Karimi, F., Shiri Malekabad, E. and Rezaei, M., 2015. Determination of heavy metals in albumen of hen eggs from the Markazi Province (Iran) using ICP-OES technique. Toxin Reviews 34: 96-100.
Fishburn, J.D., Tang, Y. and Frank, J.F., 2012. Efficacy of various consumer-friendly produce washing technologies in reducing pathogens on fresh produce. Food Protection Trends 32: 456-466.
Foy, C., Chaney, R.L. and White, M., 1978. The physiology of metal toxicity in plants. Annual Review of Plant Physiology 29: 511-566.
Haiyan, W. and Stuanes, A.O., 2003. Heavy metal pollution in air-water-soil-plant system of Zhuzhou city, Hunan Province, China. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 147: 79-107.
Horbowicz, M., Kowalczyk, W., Grzesiuk, A. and Mitrus, J., 2011. Uptake of aluminium and basic elements, and accumulation of anthocyanins in seedlings of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) as a result increased level of aluminium in nutrient solution. Ecological Chemistry and Engineering. S 18: 479-488.
Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI), 2010. ISIRI 12968. Food and feed-maximum limit of heavy metals. ISIRI Press, Tehran, Iran.
Jan, F.A., Ishaq, M., Khan, S., Ihsanullah, I., Ahmad, I. and Shakirullah, M., 2010. A comparative study of human health risks via consumption of food crops grown on wastewater irrigated soil (Peshawar) and relatively clean water irrigated soil (lower Dir). Journal of Hazardous Materials 179: 612-621.
Jansen, S., Watanabe, T. and Smets, E., 2002. Aluminium accumulation in leaves of 127 species in Melastomataceae, with comments on the order Myrtales. Annals of Botany 90: 53-64.
Jolly, Y.N., Islam, A. and Akbar, S., 2013a. Transfer of metals from soil to vegetables and possible health risk assessment. SpringerPlus 2: 385.
Jolly, Y.N., Islam, A. and Akbar, S., 2013b. Transfer of metals from soil to vegetables and possible health risk assessment. SpringerPlus 2: 1.
Jorhem, L. and Haegglund, G., 1992. Aluminium in foodstuffs and diets in Sweden. Zeitschrift für Lebensmittel-Untersuchung und Forschung 194: 38-42.
Kachenko, A.G. and Singh, B., 2006. Heavy metals contamination in vegetables grown in urban and metal smelter contaminated sites in Australia. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 169: 101-123.
Kandimalla, R., Vallamkondu, J., Corgiat, E.B. and Gill, K.D., 2016. Understanding aspects of aluminum exposure in Alzheimer’s disease development. Brain Pathology 26: 139-154.
Kramer, M.F. and Heath, M.D., 2014. Aluminium in allergen-specific subcutaneous immunotherapy – a German perspective. Vaccine 32: 4140-4148.
Krewski, D., Yokel, R.A., Nieboer, E., Borchelt, D., Cohen, J., Harry, J., Kacew, S., Lindsay, J., Mahfouz, A.M. and Rondeau, V., 2007. Human health risk assessment for aluminium, aluminium oxide, and aluminium hydroxide. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, part B, Critical Reviews 10: 1-269.
Kröppl, M., Zeiner, M., Cindri?, I.J. and Stingeder, G., 2012. Differences in aluminium content of various tea powders (black, green, herbal, fruit) and tea infusions. European Chemical Bulletin 1: 382-386.
Ligi, D., Santi, M., Croce, L. and Mannello, F., 2015. Aluminum induces inflammatory and proteolytic alterations in human monocytic cell line. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 152: 190-198.
López, F.F., Cabrera, C., Lorenzo, M.L. and López, M.C., 2002. Aluminium content of drinking waters, fruit juices and soft drinks: contribution to dietary intake. Science of the Total Environment 292: 205-213.
Mahmood, A. and Malik, R.N., 2014. Human health risk assessment of heavy metals via consumption of contaminated vegetables collected from different irrigation sources in Lahore, Pakistan. Arabian Journal of Chemistry 7: 91-99.
Moir, J., Moot, D., Black, A. and Lucas, D., 2013. Soil pH and aluminium toxicity challenges in high country. Oral presentation. Department of Agricultural Sciences, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Nham, T.T., 1991. Analysis of potable water for trace elements by ICP-AES. Varian Australia Pty. Ltd., Mulgrave, Australia.
Nouri, J., Khorasani, N., Lorestani, B., Karami, M., Hassani, A. and Yousefi, N., 2009. Accumulation of heavy metals in soil and uptake by plant species with phytoremediation potential. Environmental Earth Sciences 59: 315-323.
Parviz, M., Eshghi, N., Asadi, S., Teimoory, H. and Rezaei, M., 2015. Investigation of heavy metal contents in infusion tea samples of Iran. Toxin Reviews 34: 157-160.
Rattan, R., Datta, S., Chhonkar, P., Suribabu, K. and Singh, A., 2005. Long-term impact of irrigation with sewage effluents on heavy metal content in soils, crops and groundwater – a case study. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 109: 310-322.
Roy, S., Afsar, M.Z. and Kashem, M.A., 2014. Nutrient content of Indian spinach in saline soil as affected by different organic manures. International Journal of Environmental Sciences 4: 694.
Sato, K., Suzuki, I., Kubota, H., Furusho, N., Inoue, T., Yasukouchi, Y. and Akiyama, H., 2014. Estimation of daily aluminum intake in Japan based on food consumption inspection results: impact of food additives. Food Science and Nutrition 2: 389-397.
Shakya, P.R. and Khwaounjoo, N.M., 2013. Heavy metal contamination in green leafy vegetables collected from different market sites of Kathmandu and their associated health risks. Scientific World 11: 37-42.
Sridhara Chary, N., Kamala, C.T. and Samuel Suman Raj, D., 2008. Assessing risk of heavy metals from consuming food grown on sewage irrigated soils and food chain transfer. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 69: 513-524.
Verstraeten, S.V., Aimo, L. and Oteiza, P.I., 2008. Aluminium and lead: molecular mechanisms of brain toxicity. Archives of Toxicology 82: 789-802.
Whalen, J.K., Chang, C., Clayton, G.W. and Carefoot, J.P., 2000. Cattle manure amendments can increase the pH of acid soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 64: 962-966.
World Health Organisation (WHO), 2007. Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants 67th report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. WHO Technical Report Series 940. WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.
Zhang, H., Jiang, Z., Qin, R., Zhang, H., Zou, J., Jiang, W.and Liu, D., 2014. Accumulation and cellular toxicity of aluminum in seedling of Pinus massoniana. BMC Plant Biology 14: 264.
Aktaruzzaman, M., Fakhruddin, A., Chowdhury, M., Fardous, Z. and Alam, M., 2013. Accumulation of heavy metals in soil and their transfer to leafy vegetables in the region of Dhaka Aricha Highway, Savar, Bangladesh. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 16: 332.
Amirah, M.N., Afiza, A.S., Faizal, W.I.W., Nurliyana, M.H. and Laili, S., 2013. Human health risk assessment of metal contamination through consumption of fish. Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health 1: 1-5.
Bortey-Sam, N., Nakayama, S.M.M., Akoto, O., Ikenaka, Y., Fobil, J.N., Baidoo, E., Mizukawa, H. and Ishizuka, M., 2015. Accumulation of heavy metals and metalloid in foodstuffs from agricultural soils around Tarkwa area in Ghana, and associated human health risks. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 12: 8811-8827.
Brown, R.O., Morgan, L.M., Bhattacharya, S.K., Johnson, P.L., Minard, G. and Dickerson, R.N., 2008. Potential aluminum exposure from parenteral nutrition in patients with acute kidney injury. Annals of Pharmacotherapy 42: 1410-1415.
Cao, H., Chen, J., Zhang, J., Zhang, H., Qiao, L. and Men, Y., 2010. Heavy metals in rice and garden vegetables and their potential health risks to inhabitants in the vicinity of an industrial zone in Jiangsu, China. Journal of Environmental Sciences 22: 1792-1799.
Chamannejadian, A., Sayyad, G., Moezzi, A. and Jahangiri, A., 2013. Evaluation of estimated daily intake (EDI) of cadmium and lead for rice (Oryza sativaL.) in calcareous soils. Iranian Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering 10(1): 28.
De Sole, P., Rossi, C., Chiarpotto, M., Ciasca, G., Bocca, B., Alimonti, A., Bizzarro, A., Rossi, C. and Masullo, C., 2013. Possible relationship between Al/ferritin complex and Alzheimer’s disease. Clinical Biochemistry 46: 89-93.
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2007. Safety of aluminium from dietary intake. EFSA Journal 754: 1-34.
Exley, C., 2013. Human exposure to aluminium. Environmental Science: processes and Impacts 15: 1807-1816.
Farahani, S., Eshghi, N., Abbasi, A., Karimi, F., Shiri Malekabad, E. and Rezaei, M., 2015. Determination of heavy metals in albumen of hen eggs from the Markazi Province (Iran) using ICP-OES technique. Toxin Reviews 34: 96-100.
Fishburn, J.D., Tang, Y. and Frank, J.F., 2012. Efficacy of various consumer-friendly produce washing technologies in reducing pathogens on fresh produce. Food Protection Trends 32: 456-466.
Foy, C., Chaney, R.L. and White, M., 1978. The physiology of metal toxicity in plants. Annual Review of Plant Physiology 29: 511-566.
Haiyan, W. and Stuanes, A.O., 2003. Heavy metal pollution in air-water-soil-plant system of Zhuzhou city, Hunan Province, China. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 147: 79-107.
Horbowicz, M., Kowalczyk, W., Grzesiuk, A. and Mitrus, J., 2011. Uptake of aluminium and basic elements, and accumulation of anthocyanins in seedlings of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) as a result increased level of aluminium in nutrient solution. Ecological Chemistry and Engineering. S 18: 479-488.
Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI), 2010. ISIRI 12968. Food and feed-maximum limit of heavy metals. ISIRI Press, Tehran, Iran.
Jan, F.A., Ishaq, M., Khan, S., Ihsanullah, I., Ahmad, I. and Shakirullah, M., 2010. A comparative study of human health risks via consumption of food crops grown on wastewater irrigated soil (Peshawar) and relatively clean water irrigated soil (lower Dir). Journal of Hazardous Materials 179: 612-621.
Jansen, S., Watanabe, T. and Smets, E., 2002. Aluminium accumulation in leaves of 127 species in Melastomataceae, with comments on the order Myrtales. Annals of Botany 90: 53-64.
Jolly, Y.N., Islam, A. and Akbar, S., 2013a. Transfer of metals from soil to vegetables and possible health risk assessment. SpringerPlus 2: 385.
Jolly, Y.N., Islam, A. and Akbar, S., 2013b. Transfer of metals from soil to vegetables and possible health risk assessment. SpringerPlus 2: 1.
Jorhem, L. and Haegglund, G., 1992. Aluminium in foodstuffs and diets in Sweden. Zeitschrift für Lebensmittel-Untersuchung und Forschung 194: 38-42.
Kachenko, A.G. and Singh, B., 2006. Heavy metals contamination in vegetables grown in urban and metal smelter contaminated sites in Australia. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 169: 101-123.
Kandimalla, R., Vallamkondu, J., Corgiat, E.B. and Gill, K.D., 2016. Understanding aspects of aluminum exposure in Alzheimer’s disease development. Brain Pathology 26: 139-154.
Kramer, M.F. and Heath, M.D., 2014. Aluminium in allergen-specific subcutaneous immunotherapy – a German perspective. Vaccine 32: 4140-4148.
Krewski, D., Yokel, R.A., Nieboer, E., Borchelt, D., Cohen, J., Harry, J., Kacew, S., Lindsay, J., Mahfouz, A.M. and Rondeau, V., 2007. Human health risk assessment for aluminium, aluminium oxide, and aluminium hydroxide. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, part B, Critical Reviews 10: 1-269.
Kröppl, M., Zeiner, M., Cindri?, I.J. and Stingeder, G., 2012. Differences in aluminium content of various tea powders (black, green, herbal, fruit) and tea infusions. European Chemical Bulletin 1: 382-386.
Ligi, D., Santi, M., Croce, L. and Mannello, F., 2015. Aluminum induces inflammatory and proteolytic alterations in human monocytic cell line. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 152: 190-198.
López, F.F., Cabrera, C., Lorenzo, M.L. and López, M.C., 2002. Aluminium content of drinking waters, fruit juices and soft drinks: contribution to dietary intake. Science of the Total Environment 292: 205-213.
Mahmood, A. and Malik, R.N., 2014. Human health risk assessment of heavy metals via consumption of contaminated vegetables collected from different irrigation sources in Lahore, Pakistan. Arabian Journal of Chemistry 7: 91-99.
Moir, J., Moot, D., Black, A. and Lucas, D., 2013. Soil pH and aluminium toxicity challenges in high country. Oral presentation. Department of Agricultural Sciences, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Nham, T.T., 1991. Analysis of potable water for trace elements by ICP-AES. Varian Australia Pty. Ltd., Mulgrave, Australia.
Nouri, J., Khorasani, N., Lorestani, B., Karami, M., Hassani, A. and Yousefi, N., 2009. Accumulation of heavy metals in soil and uptake by plant species with phytoremediation potential. Environmental Earth Sciences 59: 315-323.
Parviz, M., Eshghi, N., Asadi, S., Teimoory, H. and Rezaei, M., 2015. Investigation of heavy metal contents in infusion tea samples of Iran. Toxin Reviews 34: 157-160.
Rattan, R., Datta, S., Chhonkar, P., Suribabu, K. and Singh, A., 2005. Long-term impact of irrigation with sewage effluents on heavy metal content in soils, crops and groundwater – a case study. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 109: 310-322.
Roy, S., Afsar, M.Z. and Kashem, M.A., 2014. Nutrient content of Indian spinach in saline soil as affected by different organic manures. International Journal of Environmental Sciences 4: 694.
Sato, K., Suzuki, I., Kubota, H., Furusho, N., Inoue, T., Yasukouchi, Y. and Akiyama, H., 2014. Estimation of daily aluminum intake in Japan based on food consumption inspection results: impact of food additives. Food Science and Nutrition 2: 389-397.
Shakya, P.R. and Khwaounjoo, N.M., 2013. Heavy metal contamination in green leafy vegetables collected from different market sites of Kathmandu and their associated health risks. Scientific World 11: 37-42.
Sridhara Chary, N., Kamala, C.T. and Samuel Suman Raj, D., 2008. Assessing risk of heavy metals from consuming food grown on sewage irrigated soils and food chain transfer. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 69: 513-524.
Verstraeten, S.V., Aimo, L. and Oteiza, P.I., 2008. Aluminium and lead: molecular mechanisms of brain toxicity. Archives of Toxicology 82: 789-802.
Whalen, J.K., Chang, C., Clayton, G.W. and Carefoot, J.P., 2000. Cattle manure amendments can increase the pH of acid soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 64: 962-966.
World Health Organisation (WHO), 2007. Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants 67th report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. WHO Technical Report Series 940. WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.
Zhang, H., Jiang, Z., Qin, R., Zhang, H., Zou, J., Jiang, W.and Liu, D., 2014. Accumulation and cellular toxicity of aluminum in seedling of Pinus massoniana. BMC Plant Biology 14: 264.