Iranian Journal of

Backgrounds and Objectives : Heavy metals in dust can enter to the human body through ingestion andinhalation. They can pollute the water and soil resources via atmospheric precipitation and accumulate in the plants tissue and enter human body by water and food. The aim of this study was measurement of the heavy metals in wet and dry atmospheric precipitation and effects of pollution sources at the ground surface on the concentration of heavy metals in the atmospheric precipitations.
Materials and Methods: In this study the zanjan city was divided into 5 zones and wet and dry precipitations were collected in autumn, winter and spring (2008- 2009) from zones. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr and Zn the collected precipitations were determined by Atomic Absorption spectroscopy method.
Results: The averages of concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr and Zn were 0.082, 0.286, 0.018, and 0.009 (mg/m 2.d)respectively. The correlation coefficients between Pb-Zn was 0.8 (P<0.01) and for Cr-Cd, Cd-Pb, and Cr-Pb were 0.89, 0.58 and 0.61 respectively.
Conclusion: The results showed that the industrial sources of heavy metals play the main role in concentration of heavy metals in wet and dry atmospheric precipitation in Zanjan.The correlation coefficients showed that the lead and zinc result from a common source. This source can be the lead and zinc factories locating around the city. The measurement of heavy metals in atmospheric precipitation shows the effects of anthropogenic sources in air quality. The heavy metals concentration in atmospheric precipitation can be use as air pollution index.

Background and Objectives: Heavy metal pollution has always been a major cause contamination of environment and considered as a major concern for food health. Rice is the most popular food among Iranians and presence of heavy metals in trace level in rice has received special attention because they are directly related to health.The aim of this research was to investigate the concentration of Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni in rice prevalent in the market of Iran.
Materials and Methods: 20 of the most widely consumed brands of Iranian rice were purchased from local market in Iran. 3 samples of each brand were collected and certain volumes of each sample were digested with acid. Heavy metal contents in the digested samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry.
Results :The results showed that mean concentration Pb , Cr , Ni in rice samples respectively was 0.387 , 0.683, 0.019 ( mg/kg )
Conclusion: Notably the Ni and Cr content in the rice samples was found to be below the food sanitary standards in India rice . In the other hand 50% samples content Pb was found to be upper the food sanitary (Pb: 0.3 mg/kg). The result indicated that weekly intake of heavy metal by rice was below the provisional tolerable weekly intake recommended by WHO/FAO. However, risk assessments needs considerable attention and better prevention this low pollution.

Background and Objectives: Heavy metals are seriously dangerous for the human body and their accumulation in the body can cause pathological changes in the organs and this can result in cardiovascular, liver and bone diseases, and even cancer. Human is exposed daily to these pollutants via consumption of food and water.

Materials and Methods: Considering the cumulative properties of these metals in plant organs, the amount of Cr, Mn, and Fe in soil and leaf, stem, and root tissues of cabbage, lettuce, spinach, and onions in Karaj City were investigated. For this purpose, 15 samples were randomly collected from each part of the plants, and then, the density of heavy metals was measured via atomic absorption spectrometer after cleansing, grinding, drying, and acid digestion. The data were then analyzed using SPSS software.

Results: It was found that leaves of spinach, cabbage, lettuce, and onion have higher concentrations of Cr, Mn, and Fe rather than their stems and roots. The roots of plants contain the least densities of metals. Moreover, concentrations of Fe, Cr, and Mn in soil were 11.87, 3.99 and 17.78 mg/kg, respectively. This was due to the high transportation of these metals to air-related parts of the plant like leaves. This research also showed that the densities of Cr, Mn, and Fe in leaves of studied spinach, onion, cabbage, and lettuce exceeded the FAO/WHO standard limitations (0.15, 0.3, and 0.3 mg/kg for Cr, Fe and Mn, respectively).

Conclusion: Due to the high concentrations of Cr, Mn, and Fe in studied vegetables in Karaj City, the consumption of these kinds of vegetables by citizens must be taken into consideration by regulatory agencies.