Potential Health Risk Assessment of Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn for Human Population via Consumption of Commercial Spices; a Case Study of Hamedan City, Iran

Abstract Aims: Spices are sources of many bioactive compounds that can improve the taste of food as well as affecting the digestion and metabolism. Along with that, they may also contain some substances as heavy metals, which have harmful effects on the body. The aim of present study was to assess the potential health risk of Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn contents of cardamom, curry powder and turmeric in Hamedan City, Iran. Instrument & Methods: 18 industrially packaged and weighted spice samples (cardamom, curry powder and turmeric) belonging to 6 famous brands were bought from different supermarkets of Hamedan City, Iran, in 2015. The human health risks posed by chronic exposure to the heavy metals were assessed by computing the average daily intake of metal. The health risk index (HRI) for the local population through the consumption of spice was assessed using DIM/RfD formula. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, DMS post-hoc, Tukey HSD and Pearson's correlation coefficient tests. Findings: Cr was detected in spice samples in 0.08-1.67mg/kg, Cu 0.05-1.28mg/kg, Fe 1.04-6.89mg/kg and Zn 0.40-2.25mg/kg. The mean concentration of Cu, Fe and Zn were lower than MPL. The DIM values for the examined spice samples were below the recommended values. Conclusion: The levels of Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn are less than the MPL in cardamom, curry powder and turmeric in Hamedan City, Iran

Water Quality Assessment of Groundwater Resources in Qaleeh Shahin Plain Based on Cd and HEI

Abstract Aims: The chemical elements in water resources, especially groundwater, can affect the water consumption purposes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of the overall pollution level of ground water of Qaleeh Shahin plain with respect to heavy metals by Cd and HEI methods. Instrument & Methods: This cross-sectional semi-experimental study was conducted in Sarpol-e Zahab township in Kermanshah Province, west of Iran. For this purpose, 20 groundwater wells were chosen randomly. The samples were filtered (0.45μm), stored in polyethylene bottles and were acidified at a pH lower than 2 by adding concentrated HNO3 in order to avoid metal adsorption onto the inner bottle walls. Element concentrations were determined using ICP-OES. The correlation between the metals in the different seasons, between the indices values and concentration of metals and between different indices values was assessed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Findings: There were no significant correlations between the concentrations of the elements in 2 seasons except between As and Cd in winter (r=0.544; p<0.05). Only the concentration of Pb had significant correlations with Cd (r=0.937; p=0.0001) and HEI (r=0.997; p=0.0001) values in winter and with Cd (r=0.997; p=0.0001) and HEI (r=0.810; p=0.0001) values in summer, which indicated Pb as the main contributory pollutant. The correlation between Cd and HEI was significant in winter (r=0.943; p=0.0001) and was significant in summer (r=0.818; p=0.0001). Conclusion: The water resources of Qaleeh Shahin plain, Kermanshah Province, Iran, are not polluted by heavy metals and are suitable for drinking

Multivariate Modeling of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes for 4- Aminoquinoline Antimalarial Analogues using Genetic- Algorithms Multiple Linear Regression

Purpose: To develop QSAR modeling of the inhibition of cytochrome P450s (CYPs) by chloroquine and a new series of 4-aminoquinoline derivatives in order to obtain a set of predictive in-silico models using genetic algorithms-multiple linear regression (GA-MLR) methods.Methods: Austin model 1 (AM1) semi-empirical quantum chemical calculation method was used to find the optimum 3D geometry of the studied molecules. The relevant molecular descriptors were selected by genetic algorithm-based multiple linear regression (GA-MLR) approach. In silico predictive models were generated to predict the inhibition of CYP 2B6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 isoforms using a set of descriptors.Results: The results obtained demonstrate that our model is capable of predicting the potential of new drug candidates to inhibit multiple CYP isoforms. A cross-validated Q2 test and external validation showed that the models were robust. By inspection of R2pred, and RMSE test sets, it can be seen that the predictive ability of the different CYP models varies considerably.Conclusion: Apart from insights into important molecular properties for CYP inhibition, the findings may also guide further investigations of novel drug candidates that are unlikely to inhibit multiple CYP sub-types.Keywords: Antimalarial, Chloroquine, Cytochrome P450, Genetic algorithm-based multiple linear regression, QSAR

Evaluation of Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu concentrations in wheat and bread consumed in Hamedan city

Due to an increase of environmental pollutants and their consequences entry in foods, studies on the types of pollution in different food types become of high importance. The present study was carried out to assess Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu contents in wheat and bread of Hamedan City during 2015. For this purpose, 4 wheat farms and 4 bakeries (Lavash, Barbari, Sangak and French bread types) were selected for sampling. After acid-digestion method, the concentrations of the metals were determined using ICP-OES in 3 replications. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package. Results showed that the mean concentrations (mg/kg) of Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cu in the bread samples were 5.47 ± 2.48, 0.06 ± 0.04, 0.92 ± 0.36 and 1.57 ± 0.14, respectively. The mean concentration of these metals (mg/kg) in the wheat samples were 4.93 ± 1.34, 0.17 ± 0.16, 0.92 ± 0.55 and 1.02 ± 0.31, respectively. Also comparing of the mean concentrations of metals with WHO permissible limits it was revealed that the mean concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cu were lower than permissible limits, meanwhile concentrations of Cd was higher than permissible limits. It seems that excessive using of agricultural inputs and application of sewage sludge and wastewater for irrigation could be the main reason for the high concentrations of heavy metals in agricultural products and could have public health consequences

Determination of Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu contents in raw milk from Khorram-Abad dairies

Heavy metals are the most important chemical pollutants of foods. Milk and dairy products due to the nutritional functions are largely consumed by infants and children around the world. The purpose of this study was to analyze Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu contents in raw cow milks produced in dairies of Lorestan industrial livestock zone during 2014. A total of 24 milk samples was collected from eight dairies. The samples were subjected to acid digestion according to standard method. Afterwards, the metal contents were determined using ICP-OES. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package. The results showed that mean concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu in milk samples were 3072±674, 2720±2790, 104±18.5 and 142±149 µg/kg, respectively. Also comparison of the mean concentrations of the metals with the WHO maximum permissible limits in milk revealed that the mean concentrations of all metals were significantly higher than permissible limits. Because of the mean concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu in milk samples were higher than Mean Residual Limits, therefore to achieve the consumers’ safety, monitoring of feed intake, water supplies, soil properties around livestock and forage crops and control of pollutants emission from industries near the livestock are recommended

Analysis of Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni concentrations in types of cabbage marketed in Hamedan City

Today, due to the accumulation of heavy metals in vegetables irrigated with wastewater and treated with sewage sludge has become increasing concern in the field of food safety and health of consumers. Therefore this study was conducted for analysis of Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni concentrations of 3 types of cabbage marketed in Hamedan City during 2013. For this purpose after buying 30 samples of each species of cabbage and then acid digestion of the samples according to standard methods, elements (Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni) were determined using ICP-OES (Varian, 710-ES, Australia). All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package. The results showed that mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni in Cabbage samples were 15.53±3.43, 59.33±5.35, 2.22±1.61 and 14.97±2.83 mg/kg, respectively; mean concentrations of these elements in red cabbage samples were 23.03±5.89, 37.53±4.21, 13.33±3.24 and 15.03±3.04 mg/kg, respectively; and mean concentrations of elements in broccoli samples were 8.00±3.63, 45.90±5.86, 8.20±3.39 and 16.93±3.08 mg/kg, respectively. Also comparison of the mean concentrations of evaluated metals in specimens with FAO/WHO permissible limits showed that significant difference (