Health risk assessment of heavy metals in indoor dust from Bushehr, Iran

Environmental contamination with heavy metals is one of the main concerns on a global scale and the risk related to exposure to heavy metals present in indoor dust is considered as a serious threat to human health. Therefore, the purpose of the current research was to evaluate the heavy metals concentrations in indoor dust and their potential risks in urban areas in Bushehr city, Iran. Fifty-four indoor dust samples were collected from different buildings including lab rooms, offices, school rooms and households within the Bushehr City, during May – July 2016 and analyzed using ICP-AES (Arcousmodel, Germany). The sum of hazard quotient (hazard quotient (HQs) for heavy metals for adults declined in the order of Cr > Cd > Cu >Ni > Zn > Pb for the household while the order of ΣHQ for trace metals for adults in offices is Cr > Cd > Ni >Cu > Zn > Pb. Moreover, the values ΣHQ for trace metals for children declined in the order of Cr > Cd > Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb for the schools while the order of ΣHQ for trace metals for children in households is Cd > Zn >Cu > Cd > Ni > Cr > Pb. For all heavy metals, the HQs was about an order of magnitude higher for children than for adults. These findings can be attributed to the more vulnerability of children to the toxic substances

Health risk assessment of exposure to heavy metals in dairy products collected from Bushehr, Iran

Background: Assessment of dairy products can identify the presence of heavy metals in them that poses a serious threat to human health and is a major concern on a global scale. Objective: The aim of this research was to evaluate the heavy metal concentrations in dairy products and their potential risks in urban areas in Bushehr city, Iran. Materials and Methods: A total of 71 dairy product samples (16 milk, 14 yoghurt, 15 cheeses, 13butter, 11 dough, and 12 creams) were collected randomly from dairy shops in Bushehr city, Iran and analyzed by using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: The results of this research showed that the concentrations of lead in cream and butter were significantly higher than in milk and yoghurt samples (P < 0.05). In addition, the levels of cadmium in cream and cheese were significantly higher than in milk samples (P < 0.05). Moreover, zinc contents in cheese and cream were significantly higher than in milk and butter (P < 0.05). The concentrations of Cu were significantly higher in butter and cream than in milk, cheese, and dough samples. Conclusion: The findings of the work obviously demonstrated that the daily intake of dairy products involved a tolerable amount of Pb and Cd. Therefore, the intake of dairy products in the study area is almost without potential risks