Analysis and health risk assessment of toxic (Cd and Pb) and essential (Cu and Zn) elements through consumption of potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivated in Iran

The current study was carried out to assess the risk to human health by toxic and essential elements through the intake of potatoes cultured in Lorestan Province, Iran. In so doing, a total of 54 samples of potatoes were collected and after acid digestion, the levels of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were determined using ICP-OES. Also, the daily intake of metals (DIM) and health risk index (HRI) were calculated. The results showed that the mean contents of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn (mg kg(-1)) in potato samples were 0.154, 0.148, 0.250 and 0.143, respectively, and all of them were lower than maximum permissible limits (MPL) established by WHO. Based on the results, the daily intake of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn through average consumption of 1.37E0-1 kg day(-1)potatoes in Iran ranged from 1.61E-05 to 3.29E-05, 1.55E-05 to 3.44E-05, 2.79E-05 to 4.99E-05 and 1.53E-05 to 3.93E-05, respectively, for adults; while it ranged from 7.53E-05 to 1.54E-04, 7.22E-05 to 1.61E-04, 1.30E-04 to 2.33E-04 and 7.14E-05 to 1.83E-04, respectively, for children. Although, total health risk index (THRI) values of metals were lower than the threshold value of 1 and therefore no significant potential health risk will be observed for the consumers, among the analysed metals, the Cd's and Pb's HRI values were largely the highest. Although, based on the results obtained the contribution of the potato to the total body burden of metals can be considered negligibly small and no significant potential health risk will be observed for the consumers through consumption of potatoes, but to assure food security and to reduce the health risk associated with food consumption, more attention should be given to the metal contents particularly cadmium and lead contents. Also, to minimise the exposure of hazardous materials via food consumption, quality control of irrigation water is recommended.

Automated summary

This study assessed the health risk of toxic and essential elements in potatoes grown in Lorestan Province, Iran. The results showed that the metal levels in the potatoes were below the permissible limits and thus did not pose a significant health risk to consumers. However, attention should be paid to the cadmium and lead contents in potatoes, and quality control of irrigation water is recommended to minimize exposure to hazardous materials via food consumption.