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Concentration, Source, and Potential Human Health Risk of Heavy Metals in the Commonly Consumed Medicinal Plants

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Abstract

A trend toward the use of traditional and herbal medicines has developed nowadays, and there is a growing concern regarding them being polluted with heavy metals. This study measured the heavy metal concentrations in eight different types of medicinal herbs and eight different types of herbal distillates sold in the markets in Sanandaj, Kurdistan, Iran. The concentration of some metals (Cd, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Al, Co, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Mg) was quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the associated health risk for adults and children was estimated. The mean concentration of all the metals was within the permissible limits set by the WHO. The medicinal herbs contained significantly more Al, As, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn (p < 0.02) than the herbal distillates. However, the concentrations of Cu and Hg were higher in the herbal distillates. The non-carcinogenic risks of consumption of traditional medicines in adults and children were assessed based on the target hazard quotients (THQs). The THQs for individual metals (except Al and Cr) from individual herbs were less than 1, which is considered as safe for human consumption.

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Funding

This study received financial support from the Deputy of Research, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (grant number: IR.MUK.REC. 1393-108).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

    Shadi Kohzadi, Behzad Shahmoradi & Afshin Maleki

  2. Student Research Committee, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

    Shadi Kohzadi & Hozan Loqmani

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

    Ebrahim Ghaderi

  4. Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

    Hozan Loqmani

Authors
  1. Shadi Kohzadi
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  2. Behzad Shahmoradi
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  4. Hozan Loqmani
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  5. Afshin Maleki
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Correspondence to Afshin Maleki.

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Kohzadi, S., Shahmoradi, B., Ghaderi, E. et al. Concentration, Source, and Potential Human Health Risk of Heavy Metals in the Commonly Consumed Medicinal Plants. Biol Trace Elem Res 187, 41–50 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1357-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1357-3

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