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Showing 2 results for Carcinogenic Risk
Assessment of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk of heavy metals in edible vegetable oils from Sabzevar, Iran
Hadi Niknejad, Ehsan Manavipour, Musa Cheshmi, Vajihe Hasanzadeh, Roghayeh Abedi Sarvestani, Fatemeh Ahmadi, Mehrnoosh Abtahi,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Heavy metal contamination in vegetable oils is a major food safety concern due to its potential adverse effects on public health. This study aimed to measure the concentrations of heavy metals (As, Pb, Cu, and Fe) in various types of vegetable oils and to assess the associated health risks from human consumption.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 72 samples of vegetable oils—including sesame, sunflower, and rapeseed—were systematically collected from markets in Sabzevar. The oil samples were accurately weighed and digested using a mixture of nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and hydrogen peroxide. The resulting digested solutions were filtered and analyzed for Pb, As, Cu, and Fe concentrations using microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry (MP-AES). All procedures were performed in triplicate, following national Iranian standards. To accurately evaluate health risks, the hazard quotient (HQ) for non-carcinogenic effects and the lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) were calculated using Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). A daily intake of 0.227 kg of vegetable oils was assumed, based on national dietary data, to estimate chronic exposure.
Results: The results showed that the highest levels of heavy metals in vegetable oils were as follows: Pb (0.058 mg/kg) in sesame oil, As (0.090 mg/kg) in sunflower oil, and Cu and Fe (0.143 mg/kg and 0.847 mg/kg, respectively) in rapeseed oil. The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values for Pb (THQ = 0.146), Cu (THQ = 0.022), and Fe (THQ = 0.01) were within the safe range. However, the THQ for As (THQ = 1.905) was found to be significantly elevated. The cancer risk assessment indicated that the consumption of these oils is generally within the acceptable risk range, but the risk associated with As was estimated to be approximately 100 times higher than that of Pb.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that, although the carcinogenic risk associated with vegetable oil consumption is low, continuous monitoring of these products—particularly for heavy metal contaminants—is essential to ensure consumer safety.
 

Assessing pollution and associated health risks of street dust contaminated with potentially toxic elements, the case of city of Kermanshah
Ali Asgari, Soheil Sobhanardakani, Mehrdad Cheraghi, Bahareh Lorestani, Maryam Kiani Sadr,
Volume 18, Issue 4 (3-2026)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Street dust, as a significant non-point source of PTEs contamination, is one of the primary pathways through which human can be exposed to environmental pollutants. Therefore, this study was performed to assess the pollution and health risk of As, Cd, Co, Pb, and V in street dust in Kermanshah in 2023.
Materials and Methods: A total of 48 dust samples were collected from 16 sites. After sample digestion, the contents of the elements were determined using ICP-OES. Additionally, the enrichment factor (EF), integrated pollution index (IPI), and Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI) were calculated. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks from exposure to contaminated dust were estimated.
Results: The highest mean contents of As, Cd, and Co, and V with 7.28, 0.729, 9.02, and 8.78 mg/kg, respectively, were belonged to the industrial regions and for Pb with 101 mg/kg was recorded for the commercial areas, reflecting the impact of human inputs, especially from industrial and traffic sources. The EF values indicated that "no" to "severe" enrichment level in the study area. Also, the average values of IPI, indicating the "low" to "high" pollution conditions entire the sampling sites. The mean NIPI values ​​ranged from 1.17 to 1.68, indicating "low" pollution conditions in the study area. The mean average values of HI for children and adults were categorized as "severe risk" and "low risk", respectively. However, the mean TCR values for citizens indicated high carcinogenic risk.
Conclusion: The results indicated that As and Pb had the highest contribution to cumulative health risks for both age groups; therefore, the control of emission sources of these elements, including fossil fuel combustion and traffic and also regular monitoring of street dusts especially in the regions with heavy pollution level are recommended.
 

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