Background and Aim: Food contamination by heavy metals has been of great concern to human. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of Cd, Pb, and Cr in rice imported from India and Pakistan in Sanandaj city in 2014.Methods: From the rice brands frequently used by Sanandaj’s inhabitants during 2014, the top twenty were selected. Heavy metals of each brand were assayed using an atomic absorption.Results: The results showed no significant difference in heavy metal concentrations between Indian and Pakistani origins (p<0.05). Furthermore, Cd, Pb, and Cr concentration levels were in line with national and international standards.Conclusion: Due to high levels of cadmium and chromium absorption weekly and bioaccumulation of metals in food chain, periodic studies are suggested.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin resulting from poor storage conditions while glyphosate is an herbicide used in agricultural production. Exposure to foods contaminated with these substances may result in unfavorable health problems.This study, therefore, aimed to estimate the exposure and characterize the risk of the Philippine general population, children, and women of childbearing age (WCBA) to OTA and glyphosate using the Theoretical Maximum Daily Intake (TMDI) approach based on WHO guidelines.The dietary exposure was estimated using individual food consumption data from the National Nutrition Survey 2008 combined with maximum levels set by relevant authorities. The risk was characterized by evaluating the exposure estimates against the set acceptable daily intake (ADI) for glyphosate, and permissible tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for OTA.Results revealed that the population groups had low exposure to glyphosate at 16 to 59% of its ADI. Cereal grains and flour (98%) were found to be the major contributor to dietary intake. However, consumers among children and WCBA were highly exposed to OTA at 163 and 314% PTWI, respectively. Bread and rolls (57%) and maize (31%) were the major contributors of OTA among children and WCBA, respectively.Based on the findings, it is recommended to conduct a refined exposure assessment by analyzing actual OTA values of the identified food contributors to validate the results of this study.

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.

Background and Objectives: Heavy metal pollution has always been a major cause contamination of environment and considered as a major concern for food health. Rice is the most popular food among Iranians and presence of heavy metals in trace level in rice has received special attention because they are directly related to health.The aimof this researchwas to investigate the concentration of Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni in rice prevalent in the market of Iran.Materials and Methods: 20 of the most widely consumed brands of Iranian rice were purchased from local market in Iran. 3 samples of each brand were collected and certain volumes of each sample were digested with acid. Heavy metal contents in the digested samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry.Results: The results showed that mean concentration Pb, Cr, Ni in rice samples respectively was 0.387, 0.683, 0.019 (mg/kg) Conclusion: Notably the Ni and Cr content in the rice samples was found to be below the food sanitary standards in India rice. In the other hand 50% samples content Pb was found to be upper the food sanitary (Pb: 0.3 mg/kg). The result indicated that weekly intake of heavy metal by rice was below the provisional tolerable weekly intake recommended by WHO/FAO. However, risk assessments needs considerable attention and better prevention this low pollution.

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.

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.

This study has paied to investigation and comparison of content Hg in imported rice from Indian country and cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) in Borojerd and Isfehan provinces in Iran.30 types of Indian imported rice and 5 type Iranian rice available in market of Iran in 4 repeat from every type. The first step, grains of raw rice were digested by acid digestion method and then were analyzed for Hg by adsorption atomic. To assess the weekly intake of Hg by rice, from daily consumption of rice was calculated. And it was compared with the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) established by WHO. The results showed that average concentration of Hg in imported rice was 2.16 ng/g dry wt and ranged from 1.12 to 3.96 ng/g dry wt, as average concentration of Hg in Iranian rice was 0.4 ng/g dry wt and ranged from 0.03 to 0.89 ng/g dry wt. So the Hg content in the Imported and Iranian rice samples were found below the limit of standard recommended by The Chinese National Standard Agency. Also average weekly intake of Hg from Imported and Iranian rice respectively were 41 ng/kg body weight/week that ranged from 38 to 45 ng/kg body weight/week and 8 ng/kg body weight/week that ranged from 5.9 to 9.6 ng/kg body weight/week that were below the maximum weekly intake recommended by WHO and approximately were equal with 0.082% and 0.016% PTWI recommended by WHO. To perform test of mean comparison identified that there are different significantly between content Hg in Iranian and Imported rice in level 5% And average contents heavy metal Hg in Imported rice were significantly (P<0.05) higher than Iranian rice.

Background and Objectives: Rice is the second most abundant cereal crops in Iran. In recent years, the volume of rice import to Iran is increasing considerably due to the increased average per capita consumption of this product in Iran. The entrance of heavy metals to food supply chain can cause a variety of health risks; therefore, evaluation of heavy metals in imported rice compared to Iranian rice is important considering national and international standards. The aim of this study was to determine the amount of heavy metals including lead, nickel and cadmium in imported Indian, Pakistani and Thai rice as well as Iranian rice.Materials & Methods: Ten Indian brands, five trade brands of Iranian rice and three and two trade brands of Thai and Pakistani rice samples (450 samples) were collected from local markets during three months from Tehran. Lead, cadmium and nickel were determined by wet digestion method using a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer based on international standard method of AOAC.Results: The mean values of cadmium in imported rice were significantly higher than that obtained for Iranian rice (0.010±0.003 mg kg-1) (p<0.05). Lead content in Indian rice was the highest one (1.297±0.237 mg kg-1) and higher than national and International standard (p<0.05). The mean concentration of nickel was in the range of standard and there were no significant difference among imported rice and Iranian rice (p³0.05). The Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) for each heavy metal was compared with FAO/WHO standard. The results showed the level of PTWI of imported rice was higher especially for lead and cadmium.Conclusion: Therefore, food safety monitoring system for imported rice should be performed considerably.