Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals Through Cow Milk Consumption in Trans-Himalayan High-Altitude Region

Elemental Fingerprinting of Pecorino Romano and Pecorino Sardo PDO: Characterization, Authentication and Nutritional Value

Sardinia, located in Italy, is a significant producer of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) sheep cheeses. In response to the growing demand for high-quality, safe, and traceable food products, the elemental fingerprints of Pecorino Romano PDO and Pecorino Sardo PDO were determined on 200 samples of cheese using validated, inductively coupled plasma methods. The aim of this study was to collect data for food authentication studies, evaluate nutritional and safety aspects, and verify the influence of cheesemaking technology and seasonality on elemental fingerprints. According to European regulations, one 100 g serving of both cheeses provides over 30% of the recommended dietary allowance for calcium, sodium, zinc, selenium, and phosphorus, and over 15% of the recommended dietary intake for copper and magnesium. Toxic elements, such as Cd, As, Hg, and Pb, were frequently not quantified or measured at concentrations of toxicological interest. Linear discriminant analysis was used to discriminate between the two types of pecorino cheese with an accuracy of over 95%. The cheese-making process affects the elemental fingerprint, which can be used for authentication purposes. Seasonal variations in several elements have been observed and discussed.

Factors Affecting Toxic and Essential Trace Element Concentrations in Cow's Milk Produced in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil

The aim of this study was to provide information on the levels of toxic (Cd and Pb) and essential (Cu, Fe, and Zn) elements in cow's milk produced in the State of Pernambuco (Brazil). A total of 142 samples of raw milk were collected, and the concentrations of essential and toxic elements were determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. In almost 30% of the samples analyzed, the Pb content exceeded the maximum level established in the Brazilian legislation (0.05 mg/L). By contrast, in all the samples, the Cd content was below the maximum allowable level (0.02 mg/L). The essential trace elements Cu, Fe, and Zn were generally present at lower concentrations than reported in other studies and can be considered within the deficient range for cow's milk. Statistical and chemometric procedures were used to evaluate the main factors influencing the metal concentrations (proximity to major roads, presence of effluents, and milking method). The study findings demonstrate that the proximity of the farms to major roads influences the concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Cu and that this is the main factor explaining the Pb content of milk. In addition, the presence of effluents influenced the concentrations of Cu, while no relationship between the metal content and the milking method was observed. Thus, in accordance with the study findings, the consumption of cow's milk produced in the region can be considered a risk to public health due to the high concentrations of Pb and the low concentrations of other essential minerals such as Cu, Zn, and Fe in some of the milk samples.

Determination of Heavy Metal Levels and Health Risk Assessment of Raw Cow Milk in Guelma Region, Algeria

During the recent decades, adverse effects of unexpected contaminants, such as heavy metals on raw cow milk quality, have threatened human health. The objective of this study was to determine heavy metal levels in raw milk collected from autochthonous bovine breeds in the eastern region of Algeria. Eighty-eight pooled milk samples were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry for Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Fe, and Zn, and dietary risks were estimated for infants, children, and adults with minimum, average, and maximum milk consumption scenarios. Results revealed that Pb (0.94 ± 0.49 mg/kg), Cd (0.03 ± 0.01 mg/kg), and Cu (0.14 ± 0.08 mg/kg) levels in all analyzed samples were higher than their corresponding maximum residue levels (MRLs). The task hazard quotient (THQ) values suggest potential risk for infants in the three scenarios from Pb, Cd, and Cr; for children in the three scenarios from Pb and in the high scenario from Cr; and for adults in the medium and high scenarios from Pb. The hazard index (HI) values were higher than 1, and the contributions of each metal to the overall HI followed a descending order of Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, and Fe with values of 68.19%, 15.39%, 6.91%, 4.94%, 3.42%, 0.88%, and 0.28%, respectively. Our results indicated that there may be a potential risk of heavy metals, especially Pb, for infants through raw cow milk consumption. Moreover, data actualization and continuous monitoring are necessary and recommended to evaluate heavy metal effects in future studies.

Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals Due to Wheat, Cabbage, and Spinach Consumption at Cold-Arid High Altitude Region

Soil and water from the trans-Himalayan high-altitude region contain high concentrations of various heavy metals. Vegetables and cereals such as cabbage, spinach, and wheat are most prone to heavy metal accumulation from soil and water which can be toxic for human consumption. It has yet to be studied how consumption of vegetables and cereal with excess heavy metal content can affect human health in high altitude areas. To this end, the objectives of this study are (a) quantify the concentrations of Aluminum (Al), Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co), Boron (B), Lead (Pb), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Selenium (Se), Copper (Cu), and Zinc (Zn) in three crops (wheat, cabbage, and spinach), and (b) evaluate the health risk of excess dietary heavy metal consumption in the local adult population using non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic parameters. A total of 60 samples were analyzed for minerals and potentially toxic elements using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Results found that spinach has a high mineral content than wheat and cabbage. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of each metal in each crop was less than the limit of permissible value. The hazard index (HI) of three plant species, and target hazard quotient (THQ) were less than the threshold level (< 1). The carcinogenic risk (CR) value in all the crops was less than the unacceptable risk level (1 × 10^-4). These findings suggest that consumption of wheat, spinach, and cabbage does not have any significant effect on human health due to presence of elevated heavy metals at this high altitude region. .

Research progress of heavy metals in desert-visual analysis based on CiteSpace

In this paper, Web of Science (a database) is used to retrieve related literature in the field of heavy metal pollution in desert. CiteSpace is used to make a quantitative and qualitative evaluation on the literature in the field on the basis of a brief analysis on the research status, research focus, and evolution process in the field. Through CiteSpace visual analysis, a comparative analysis is given on related literature in terms of annual number of published papers, author groups, and their countries and regions, journals, publishing institutions, highly cited papers, research focuses, and burst terms, so as to explore the research status and future development trend of the field on a global scale. The results are shown as follows: (1) The literature in the field was originally published in 2000; the number of published papers increased steadily. The literature was mostly published on high-quality journals, the USA topped in terms of the number of published papers, and the research results achieved by developed countries had a greater influence. Chinese Acad Sci topped with the highest centrality and most published papers, which have made outstanding contributions to the field and occupy a leading position in the field. However, the fact is that there lacks communication and cooperation among research institutions. The most influential journal is Science of the Total Environment. (2) The hot research words in the field are as follows: heavy metal, soil, pollution, lead, desert, cadmium, and microelement. (3) In the field, burst terms have transformed from atmospheric deposition, biomonitoring, and phytoremediation to trace element, stream sediment, street dust, and water quality, and finally transformed to river and sediment. New words keep emerging in the research, and more and more attention is paid to the issue of heavy metal pollution in river sediment, which will be a future research hotspot in the field.