Heavy metal accumulation potential in pomegranate fruits and leaves grown in roadside orchards

The Level of Heavy Metal in Fresh and Processed Fruits: A Study Meta-analysis, Systematic Review, and Health Risk Assessment

Intake of fruits is important for health. However, it can be a contamination source of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The present study aimed to investigate the concentration of PTEs such as arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and Iron (Fe) in various fresh and processed fruits. All the studies related to the concentration of PTEs in fresh and processed fruits by international databases including were included and non-carcinogenic risks assessment was evaluated based on the total hazard quotient (TTHQ). According to findings highest concentrations of As, Cd and Pb were observed in pineapple, mango, and cherry, while the lowest concentrations of these metals were found in berries, pineapple, and berries. Regarding trace elements, peach and cucumber represented the highest and lowest concentrations of Fe, respectively. Moreover, the highest and lowest concentrations of Cu were related to plum and banana, respectively. Considering the type of continents, the highest concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Fe, Ni, and Cu among fresh and processed fruits belonged to Pan American Health Organization (EMRO), EMRO, African Region (AFRO), European Region (EURO), AFRO, and Western Pacific Region (SEARO). Eventually, the non-carcinogenic risk assessment of the heavy metal in fresh and processed fruits indicated that the risk pattern was different in various countries and the calculated TTHQ level in infants was below 1. Overall, the consumption of fresh and processed fruits is safe and does not pose a risk to the health of consumers.

Trend Analysis of Lead Content in Roadside Plant and Soil Samples in Turkey

Objectives

Lead (Pb) is one of the most common heavy metals which contaminate the environment. People may be exposed to Pb by inhaling the contaminated air droplets and dust particles through drinking water or eating contaminated foods such as vegetables grown in lead-contaminated soils. This study aimed to examine the changes in Pb levels measured in roadside plant and soil samples that have been exposed to heavy traffic for years.

Materials and Methods

Sixty-three articles were searched using keywords from different databases. Twenty-five of the scanned articles were found to be relevant for the determined criteria. The Pb levels were evaluated according to the previously measured Pb levels in plant and soil samples collected from the roadside by years.

Results

In the data collected from databases over the years, it was observed that there was a decrease in Pb accumulation in both soil and plant samples. Pb levels were higher in industrial cities and metropolitan areas than in rural areas.

Conclusion

In ealier studies, Pb levels have often been found to exceed safety limits. This may be due to the Pb added to gasoline in the past, as well as the low sensitivity of analytical methods used for measurement. The decrease over the years has been interpreted as the use of unleaded gasoline after 2004, taking essential measures to improve air quality and at the same time increasing the sensitivity of analytical methods.