Amin Mousavi Khaneghah

Risk assessment of heavy metals bioaccumulation: fished shrimps from the Persian Gulf

Abstract Although, several benefits can be offered by the consumption of marine products, the heavy metals bioaccumulation inside of their body can put the health of consumers at a high level of risk. In this context, however, the Persian Gulf contentedly is polluted by waste water, solid waste and petroleum activities residues, due to an increasing trend in consumption of fished aquatic organisms such as fish and shrimp, the safety of marine products is a source of concern. The current review was established in order tracing the metals concentrations in the muscle of fished shrimps from the Persian Gulf as well as conducting the health risk assessment. The reviewed literature was based on the internal and external databases. According to the results of 23 studies, the maximum and minimum heavy metals concentrations were determined as Zn (8.56 ± 34.68 μg/g) and Hg (0.08 ± 0.04 μg/g), respectively. Moreover, the heavy metal levels in the 32.5% of studies were higher than premiered limit by the WHO/FDA guidelines. Based on the calculated median for heavy metals concentrations, Total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) for the adults and children were reported as 0.466 and 0.311, respectively. The order of the concentration of the heavy metals can be demonstrated as following: Co > As > Cd > Pb > Cu > Zn > Mn > Ni > Hg > Cr. Considering the results of risk assessment, no potential human health risk for the consumers shrimps of the Persian Gulf was observed. Research highlights Maximum and minimum of heavy metals concentrations in the shrimps were determined as Zn and Hg, respectively, in the Bushehr, Khuzestan, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Kuwait and Qatar. Total target hazard quotient for the adults and children were less than 1 value. Overall, potential health risk of heavy metals does not threaten consumer’s heath.

Non-carcinogenic risk assessment induced by heavy metals content of the bottled water in Iran

Abstract Recently, the exposure to heavy metals from bottled waters raised huge concerns. In this context, for the first time the risk of non-carcinogenic exposure by the heavy metals in Iranian drinking water was assessed. Therefore, by using the obtained data in our previous published study, the target hazard quotient (THQ) and total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) by considering to the sexuality of consumers were calculated. THQ in females were determined as significantly higher (p < .05) in comparison with the males. The rank order of heavy metals based on THQ was As > Pb > Hg > Cd > Cu, respectively. The minimum and maximum of THQ for the males were observed in age groups of +65 and 1–3 years, respectively. The minimum and maximum of THQ for females were noted in age groups of 11–14 and 1–3 years, respectively. Since TTHQ for all ages were less than 1 (p < .05), the consumers are not exposed to the non-carcinogenic risk by the heavy metals in the bottled water.

Foamy polystyrene trays for fresh-meat packaging: Life-cycle inventory data collection and environmental impact assessment

Food packaging systems are designed to perform series of functions mainly aimed at containing and protecting foods during their shelf-lives. However, to perform those functions a package causes environmental impacts that affect food supply chains and that come from its life-cycle phases. Therefore, package design should be done based upon not only the issues of cost, food shelf-life and safety, as well as practicality, but also of environmental sustainability. For this purpose, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can be applied in the packaging field with the aim of highlighting environmental hotspots and improvement potentials, thus enabling more eco-friendly products. In this context, an LCA of foamy polystyrene (PS) trays used for fresh meat packaging was performed here. The study highlighted that the highest environmental impacts come from PS-granule production and electricity consumption. In this regard, the authors underscored that there are no margins for improvement in the production of the granules and in the transport of the material inputs involved as well as of the trays to users. On the contrary, changing the energy source into a renewable one (by installing, for instance, a wind power plant) would enable a 14% damage reduction. In this way, the authors documented that alternative ways can be found for global environmental improvement of the system analysed and so for enhanced environmental sustainability of food packaging systems.

Trace elements and heavy metals in mineral and bottled drinking waters on the Iranian market.

A survey of Iranian waters, sampled from 2010 to 2013, is presented. A total of 128 water samples from 42 different brands of bottled mineral and drinking water were collected and analysed for contamination levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg). Determinations were performed using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer for Pb, Cd and Cu, a hydride vapour generation as well as an Arsenator digital kit (Wagtech WTD, Tyne and Wear, UK) for As and a direct mercury analyser for Hg. Arsenic concentration in six bottled gaseous mineral samples was higher than the related limit. Regardless of these, mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu, As and Hg in all types of water samples were 4.50 ± 0.49, 1.08 ± 0.09, 16.11 ± 2.77, 5.80 ± 1.63 and 0.52 ± 0.03 µg L−1, respectively. Values obtained for analysed heavy metals in all samples were permissible according to the limits of national and international standards.

Risk assessment of benzene in food samples of Iran's market

The concentration of benzene in ninety-eight collected food and drink samples (carbonated beverage, fruit juice, pickle, lime juice, mayonnaise and salad dressing, 16 samples from each) from Iran local markets were investigated using gas chromatography equipped with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Moreover, the correlation of benzene concentration with sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid concentrations was assessed. Benzene concentration in carbonated beverages, fruit juices, pickle, lime juices, mayonnaise and salad dressing were 3.57 ± 1.70, 5.17 ± 3.63, 4.37 ± 2.24, 4.99 ± 0.54, 1.38 ± 0.87 and 1.47 ± 0.83 μg/L, respectively, being in all cases below the acceptable limit (10 μg/L) proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a reference for drinking water. Benzene concentration exceeded the maximum tolerable limit in 12.5% of carbonated beverages and fruit juices (two samples from each). A significant correlation coefficient between the concentrations of benzene, sodium benzoate, and ascorbic acid in fruit juices, and levels of benzene, sodium benzoate in carbonated beverage samples was observed. To characterize the risk of exposure of urban and rural consumers of Iran (female in age group of 15-24 and male in age group of 25-64) to benzene in food and drink samples the Margin of Exposure (MoE) approach was applied revealing there is no severe concern regarding benzene intake through assessed food and beverages samples in Iran.

Concentration of lead and mercury in collected vegetables and herbs from Markazi province, Iran: a non-carcinogenic risk assessment.

The current study was undertaken to determine the concentration of Hg and Pb in ten types of collected green leafy vegetables and herbs from different agricultural sites of Markazi province, Iran as well as the gathered water and soil around them using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Also, the potential health risk assessment by using target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) parameters was estimated. Based on the accumulation order, Artemisia dracunculus L with 56.147 ± 17.30 μg/kg and Spinacia oleracea L with 1733.62 ± 2264.7 μg/kg can uptake and accumulate more concentration of Pb and Hg in their tissues, respectively. Regarding gathered soil around vegetables, the concentration of Hg and Pb were measured as 52.056 ± 16.25 μg/kg and 4993.83 ± 1287.8 μg/kg, respectively. The transfer factor (TF) demonstrated that vegetables and herbs could absorb a high amount of Hg from the soil while these plants uptake less concentration of Pb thought their green leaves. The non-carcinogenic risk assessment showed the minimum, and maximum THQ was related to 15-24 and 35-44 age groups in the urban and rural consumers. Also, HI in the urban and rural areas was calculated as 8.492 and 9.012, respectively. Since HI > 1, exposure of the urban and rural areas of Markazi province to non-carcinogenic risk by consuming the green leafy vegetables and herbs is a source of concern.

Radon 222 in drinking water resources of Iran: A systematic review, meta-analysis and probabilistic risk assessment (Monte Carlo simulation)

The current study was performed to review the conducted studies regarding the concentration of radon 222 in the tap drinking water; furthermore, by estimation of ingestion and inhalation effective dose, the health risk assessment in the adults and children using MCS technique was assessed. All related studies published among January 1990 to October 2016; were screened in the available databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, SID, and Irandoc. The total effective dose was estimated by calculating Eing (Effective dose of ingestion) and Einh (Effective dose of inhalation) by Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method. The range of ND ─ 40.9 Bq/L for radon 222 in water resources was proposed after evaluation of data collected from 13 studies with 1079 samples. The overall concentration of radon 222 in drinking water in Iran was 3.98: 95%CI (3.79 ─ 4.17 Bq/L). Also, the effective ingestion dose of radon 222 in adults age groups was 1.35 times higher than children. The rank order of drinking water resources based on the concentration of radon 222 was Spring > Spring and Well > Well > Spring and Qanat > Tap water. The overall concentration of radon 222 in drinking water in Iran was lower than WHO and EPA standard limits. Also, the rank order regarding area studied based on the concentration of radon 222 was Gillan > Mashhad > Mazandaran > Kerman > Yazd > Tehran > Kermanshah > Golestan > Hormozgan. The effective ingestion dose of radon 222 to consumers in the Gillan, Mashhad, Mazandaran, and Kerman were higher than WHO guidance (0.1 mSv/y). Also except consumers in the Hormozgan, inhalation effective dose radon 222, in the other investigated areas were higher than WHO guidance (0.1 mSv/y). Therefore, it is recommended to conduct the required programs regarding control and elimination of radon 222 concentration in Iranian drinking water supply.

Effects of Ultrasound Treatment, UV Irradiation and Avishan-e-Denaei Essential Oil on Oxidative Stability of Sunflower Oil

Abstract Avishan-e-Denaei is usually used as herbal tea, flavoring agents and medicinal plants. In this study, effects of Avishan-e-Denaei essential oil (EO) extracted by ohmic ultrasound extractor (0.08 %) and synthetic antioxidant (BHT) on oxidative stability of sunflower oil at different accelerated condition including ultrasound (30 KHz, 100 W, 30 s) and Ultraviolet (UV) Irradiation (30 min) were compared. GC-MS analyses of EO revealed , the major components were thymol (62.4 %), carvacrol (14.8 %) and γ-terpinene (4.5 %). The results of peroxide value (PV), anisidine value (AV), thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value, free fatty acid (FFA), iodine value (IV) and induction period (IP) showed sunflower oil samples supplemented with EO (treated or no treated by ultrasound and UV) were more stable in comparison to BHT against oxidation. In addition, EO was able to decrease the stable 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH) with a 50 % inhibition concentration (IC50 ) of 22.3 ± 1.2 µg/mL. The results indicate that ultrasound and UV could accelerate lipid degradation and the addition of the EO as a natural antioxidant, significantly reduced lipid oxidation and improved oil stability.

Determination of heavy metal content of processed fruit products from Tehran's market using ICP- OES: A risk assessment study

In this study, the levels of Cd, Hg, Sn, Al, Pb and As of 72 samples (36 samples for fruits juices and 36 samples for fruits canned) of three different brands including of Peach, Orange, Cherry, and Pineapple (18 samples of each fruits) marketed in Tehran, Iran (2015) were evaluated using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) technique. Also, Probabilistic risk assessment (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks) was estimated by models include target hazard quotient (THQ) and cancer risk (CR) in the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) model. However, all samples were contaminated with the heavy metals investigated, most of them not surpassed established standards. The range of concentration for Al, Sn, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb as average in fruit juices were reported as 340.62 (65.17-1039.2), 72.33 (49.76-119.4), 3.76 (1.137-18.36), 2.12 (0.89-3.44), 0.351 and 40.86 (27.87-66.1) μg/kg, respectively. The level of heavy metals measured in different kinds of fruit juices was ranked as Al > Sn > Pb > As > Cd > Hg, and for fruits canned this rank was Pb > Al > Sn > As > Cd > Hg. The range of concentration for Al, Sn, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb in fruits canned were reported as 361.23 (43.15-1121.2), 101.42 (71.45-141.61), 3.92 (1.279-19.50), 2.78 (1.09-5.56), 0.35 and 690.54 (470.56-910.14) μg/kg, respectively. The lead (Pb) concentration in 97.22% (35 out of 36 samples) of fruit juices samples surpassed Codex limit (0.05 mg/kg) and in all samples of FC was lower than the legal limit of Codex limit (1 mg/kg). All of the samples had Tin (Sn) lower than the legal limit of Codex (fruit juices 100 mg/kg and FC 250 mg/kg). The MCS indicated that the rank order of heavy metals in both adults and children based on THQ was Al > Sn > As > Pb > Cd > Hg. The THQ of Al and Sn in the FJ and FC, for both adults, and children, was considerably higher than 1 value. Also, CR of As in both adults and children were higher than 1E-6 value. Although the mean concentration of heavy metal in the FJ and FC was lower than the standard limit, the MCS indicated that adults and children are at considerable non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks.

The effects of food essential oils on cardiovascular diseases: A review

ABSTRACT Essential oils (EO) are complex secondary metabolites, which are produced by aromatic plants and identified by their powerful odors. Present studies on EO and their isolated ingredients have drawn the attention of researchers to screen these natural products and evaluate their effect on the cardiovascular system. Some EO, and their active ingredients, have been reported to improve the cardiovascular system significantly by affecting vaso-relaxation, and decreasing the heart rate and exert a hypotension activity. Several mechanisms have been proposed for the role of EO and their main active components in promoting the health of the cardiovascular system. The objective of this review is to highlight the current state of knowledge on the functional role of EO extracted from plants for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and their mechanisms of action. Research on EO has the potential to identify new bioactive compounds and formulate new functional products for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as arterial hypertension, angina pectoris, heart failure, and myocardial infarction.