Background and Objective: Regarding the importance of using the healthy vegetables, it is important to control the concentration of heavy metals in order to provide the health of consumers. Therefore, this study was done with the aim of investigating the evaluation of the risk of heavy metals on human health trough consumption of greenhouse products. Material and Methodology: Samples included eggplants, tomatoes, greenhouse cucumbers and strawberries, were collected randomly from Jiroft greenhouses and the concentration of lead and cadmium in leaves and fruits of these plants were measured. The amount of EDI was defined for each product according to daily consumption. Findings: The average concentration of lead and cadmium in samples were different. The highest and the lowest amount of cadmium respectively belonged to tomatoes and greenhouse cucumbers. The results showed that levels of lead and cadmium in most of the products were more than the standard range recommended by the institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran and the FAO-WHO. Discussion and Conclusions: The results showed that the amount of lead and cadmium exceeded the standard index, However the amount of EDI was less than or equal to PTDI reported by Standards Institute's of Iran. Overall, according to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the consumption of these products has not any negative effects on the consumers' health.

Background and purpose: Heavy metals in tea causes harmful effects on the health of consumers. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, cobalt and nickel in black tea and their infusions, and evaluation of their health hazards in Rasht, Iran.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 54 samples of nine brands of black tea and their infusions including six Iranian and three foreign products that were selected randomly in 2014. After sample preparation, the concentration of heavy metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES).Results: The range of concentrations of arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, and nickel in black tea were 0.03-0.1, 0.5-3.5, 0.07-0.6, 0.9-3.9, 1.8-6.7, and 1.7 to 8.9 mg per kg and in their infusions were 0.01-0.03, 0.1-0.4, 0.04-0.2, 0.4-0.8, 0.2-1.2, and 0.6-2.1 mg per kg, respectively. The concentrations of arsenic and cadmium (22%) and lead (11%) were reported to be below the detection limit in black tea samples.Conclusion: Despite the high concentration of heavy metals in some samples of tea and their infusions, the estimated values of PTWI and THQ cause no consumer health risks according to the guidelines suggested by WHO and FAO. Nevertheless, continuous monitoring of heavy metals contamination in black tea and their infusions is highly necessary.

This study was conducted aimed to assess the potential risk of heavy metals on human health resulting from consumption of vegetables. To this end, the vegetables grown around town and industrial center of Zanjan were sampled randomly. Plant samples were digested using hydrochloric acid (HCL) 2 M and concentration of elements (Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni and Cr) were recorded by atomic absorption. Obtained means of heavy metals in all vegetables (N=32) for Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni and Cr is 98.8, 31.9, 19.3, 4.4 and 2.3 mg/kg, respectively. The highest amount of metal pollution index (MPI) in the basil and the lowest was observed in the garden cress (respectively 16.46 and 4.88). Daily intake (EDI) for zinc, copper and chromium in all age groups was lower than the provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI). This amount for nickel was 2, 1.6 and 1.3 %, and for Pb 28.1, 22 and 19 % higher than PTDI in children, adults and seniors, respectively. The potential risk (THQ) was calculated in all age groups as Pb>>Cu>Zn>Ni>Cr. The potential risks (THQ) of chromium, nickel and zinc were calculated lower than 1, for copper a bit more of 1 and for lead much higher than 1. Health index (HI) for children, adults and the elderly was estimated 31.331, 24.58 and 21.14, respectively, with the largest contribution of the lead (89.7%).

PTDI and PTWI value. At the same time, a significant negative correlation between Pb and Cd and a significant positive correlation between length and condition factor with 99% probability level was found. Risk assessment on non-carcinogenicity showed the highest and lowest THQ in Zn and Cd respectively, the same was the case for TTHQ formation and for none of the metals was not >1. Also, the allowable level for in heavy metals Cd, Pb, and Zn. Mean's Non Carcinogenicity risk.

For most people, diet is the main route of exposure to metals, so risk assessment of these elements to human via dietary intake is important. For this purpose, concentrations of Pb and Cd in the muscles of two species of fish (Liza auratus and Liza Saliens) collected from Gorgan gulf were measured. The determination of Cd and Pb in fish tissues was carried out using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer, (Thermo, Model 97GFS). Health risks of fish were assessed by the target hazard quotients (THQs), provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) and provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI). The results showed that mean concentration of Cd in muscle tissues of L. auratus and L. Saliens were 252.05 and 96.7 and mean concentration of Pb in muscle tissues of L. auratus and L. Saliens were 8632 and 1712 mg kg-1 wet weights. The THQ values of Pb and Cd were below 1 for both species. The estimated values of Pb and Cd in muscles of fish in this study were less than established values by JECFA.

This study was undertaken to determine the concentration of mercury in edible muscle of five commercially valuable marine organisms from Mosa Bay, Persian Gulf, Iran. The total mercury concentrations were determined by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry and expressed in mg/g dry weight. Certified reference materials were used for each batch of analysis. Mercury concentration was 0.373 mg/g for Liza abu, 1.172 mg/g Sparidentex hasta, 0.445 mg/g for Acanthopagrus latus, 0.390 mg/g for Thunnus tonggol, and 0.360 mg/g for Fenneropenaeus indicus. Carnivorous fish had higher level of mercury than non-carnivorous. Statistical analysis revealed weak correlation between fish mercury concentration and length for all studied organisms. The observed concentrations were comparable to those found in other areas of the Persian Gulf and were lower than the WHO guideline of 0.5 mg/kg wet weight. Our result demonstrated that estimated daily and weekly intakes of mercury via consumption of fish flesh were far below the PTDI and PTWI values recommended by FAO/WHO.

Metal pollution has always been a major cause of contamination of the environment and is considered a major concern for food health. In this study, the human health risk due to the consumption of muscle of Rastrelliger kanagurta was evaluated by measuring the concentrations of copper and zinc in caviar and muscle samples. After preparation operation, biometry, and digestion of muscle parts, measurement of heavy metal concentrations were done using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Mean concentrations of copper and zinc were lower than the international standard limits. In addition, the calculations indicated that daily and weekly copper and zinc uptake for the Iranian consumers, according to Statistical Yearbook of Iran Fisheries organization (the amount consumed per capita), is lower than the guideline values (PTWI and PTDI) provided by WHO, USEPA. In general, the THQ and total THQ measured in this study were <1. In conclusion, metals concentration in this species is acceptable for human consumption from a toxicity point of view. The consumption of the R. Kanagurta is not to cause any adverse health effects to consumers.

In this study, the human health risk of mercury due to consumption of croaker (Otolithes ruber) in Mahshahr, the Persian Gulf, was evaluated using atomic absorbtion spectrophotometer) and cold vapor techniques to measure the mercury concentration in muscle samples of 30 fresh croakers. A. Result showed the average concentration of mercury in croaker muscle was 0.354±0.09 mg/ g of fresh wet weight, which was less than the allowable amount for human consumption determined by the international organizations such as USFDA and WHO, but more than the allowable amount for human consumption determined by MAFF and the USEPA. HQ Index was above 1 (1.18). In addition, the calculations indicated that daily and weekly mercury uptake for the Iranian consumers, according to Statistical Yearbook of Iran Fisheries organization (the amount consumed per capita), is lower than the guideline values (PTWI and PTDI) provided by WHO, USFDA and more than USEPA. Therefore, the consumption of the croaker might be associated with some threat to the consumer’s health particularly pregnant women, fetuses and children from mercurybut consumption permitted rate of 20gper dayand138 gper weekis recommended for other people.

Mercury is one of the most toxic heavy metal which can enter the human body mainly through consumption of seafood contaminated with mercury. In this study, the human health risk due to consumption of kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum), in the Caspian Sea, were evaluated by measuring the concentration of mercury in muscle samples using Atomic absorbtion spectrophotometer (Perkin Elmer FIAS-100) and cold vapor technique. A total of 60 fresh kutum were collected by local fisherman from 12 stations on the southern coast of Caspian Sea in Mazandaran province. The average concentration of mercury in kutum muscle was 0.112 mg/g of fresh weight (0.382 mg/g dry weight) which was less than the allowable amount for human consumption determined by the international organizations such as USEPA, WHO, FAO and the FDA. HQ Index was below 1 (0.48). Also, the calculations indicated that daily and weekly mercury uptake for Iranian consumers, according to FAO (the amount consumed per capita) is lower than the guide values (PTWI and PTDI) provided by WHO, USEPA and JECFA. Therefore, the consumption of the kutum is not a serious threat to the consumer’s health and a consumption permitted rate of 62 g is recommended.

In this study, the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Co were analyzed in the muscles of Cyprinus carpio collected from Nowshahr on the south of Caspian Sea, Iran in June 2016. Determination of heavy metals concentrations in the studied fish muscles had been carried out by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. The range of metals concentrations were as: Cd: 0. 10– 1. 56, Pb: 0. 10– 1. 23, Cu: 0. 88– 8. 23, Mn: 0. 34– 1. 05 and Co: 0. 56– 1. 43 mg/kg wet weight. The results showed that the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Co in the muscles of C. carpio were lower than the proposed limits of the WHO. Health risks to human via dietary intake of fish were assessed by the target hazard quotients (THQs). The THQ values of the five metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn and Co) were below 1 for C. carpio. Metal concentrations in the edible part of C. carpio were assessed for human uses according to provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) and provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI). In this study, Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn and Co concentrations in the muscle of C. carpio were below the maximum permissible limit of the WHO.