Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A comparison of the potential health risk of aluminum and heavy metals in tea leaves and tea infusion of commercially available green tea in Jiangxi, China

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Heavy metals and Al in tea products are of increasing concern. In this study, contents of Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb in commercially available green tea and its infusions were measured by ICP-MS and ICP-AES. Both target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) were employed to assess the potential health risk of studied metals in tea leaves and infusions to drinkers. Results showed that the average contents of Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb in tea leaves were 487.57, 0.055, 0.29, 1.63, 17.04, 7.71, and 0.92 mg/kg, respectively. Except for Cu, metal contents were within their maximum limits (1, 5, 30, and 5 mg/kg for Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb, respectively) of current standards for tea products. Concentrations of metals in tea infusions were all below their maximum limits (0.2, 0.005, 0.05, 1.0, 0.02, and 0.01 mg/L for Al, Cd, Cr(VI), Cu, Ni, and Pb, respectively) for drinking water, and decreased with the increase of infusion times. Pb, Cd, Cu, and Al mainly remained in tea leaves. The THQ from 2.33 × 10−5 to 1.47 × 10−1 and HI from1.41 × 10−2 to 3.45 × 10−1 values in tea infusions were all less than 1, suggesting that consumption of tea infusions would not cause significant health risks for consumers. More attention should be paid to monitor Co content in green tea. Both THQ and HI values decreased with the increase of infusion times. Results of this study suggest that tea drinkers should discard the first tea infusion and drink the following infusions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abd El-Aty, A. M., Choi, J.-H., Rahman, M. M., King, S.-W., Tosun, A., & Shim, J.-H. (2014). Residues and contaminants in tea and tea infusions: a review. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A, 31, 1794–1804.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Affholder, M.-C., Prudent, P., Masotti, V., Coulomb, B., Rabier, J., Nguyen-The, B., & Laffont-Schwob, I. (2013). Transfer of metals and metalloids from soil to shoots in wild rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) growing on a former lead smelter site: human exposure risk. Science of the Total Environment, 454, 219–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashraf, W., & Mian, A. A. (2008). Levels of selected heavy metals in black tea varieties consumed in saudi arabia. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 81(1), 101–104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Basgel, S., & Erdemoglu, S. B. (2006). Determination of mineral and trace elements in some medicinal herbs and their infusions consumed in Turkey. Science of the Total Environment, 359(1–3), 82–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao, H., Qiao, L., Zhang, H., & Chen, J. (2010). Exposure and risk assessment for aluminium and heavy metals in Puerh tea. Science of the Total Environment, 408(14), 2777–2784.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, R. F., Shen, R. F., Gu, P., Wang, H. Y., & Xu, X. H. (2008). Investigation of aluminum-tolerant species in acid soils of South China. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 39(9–10), 1493–1506.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cherif Lahimer, M., Ayed, N., Horriche, J., & Belgaied, S. (2014). Characterization of plastic packaging additives: food contact, stability and toxicity. Arabian Journal of Chemistry. doi:10.1016/j.arabjc.2013.07.022.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dambiec, M., Polechonska, L., & Klink, A. (2013). Levels of essential and non-essential elements in black teas commercialized in Poland and their transfer to tea infusion. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 31, 62–66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeFlora, S., Camoirano, A., Bagnasco, M., Bennicelli, C., Corbett, G. E., & Kerger, B. D. (1997). Estimates of the chromium(VI) reducing capacity in human body compartments as a mechanism for attenuating its potential toxicity and carcinogenicity. Carcinogenesis, 18(3), 531–537.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, Q.-L., Liu, Y., Li, L., & Achal, V. (2014). A survey on the heavy metal contents in Chinese traditional egg products and their potential health risk assessment. Food additives & contaminants: Part B: Surveillance, 7(2), 99–105.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, Q.-L., Li, L., Achal, V., Jiao, A.-Y., & Liu, Y. (2015). Concentrations of heavy metals and arsenic in market rice grain and their potential health risks to the population of Fuzhou, China. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 21(1), 117–128.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fung, K. F., Carr, H. P., Poon, B. H. T., & Wong, M. H. (2009). A comparison of aluminum levels in tea products from Hong Kong markets and in varieties of tea plants from Hong Kong and India. Chemosphere, 75(7), 955–962.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gorur, F. K., Keser, R., Akcay, N., Dizman, S., & Okumusoglu, N. T. (2011). Radionuclides and heavy metals concentrations in Turkish market tea. Food Control, 22(12), 2065–2070.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han, W. Y., Shi, Y. Z., Ma, L. F., & Ruan, J. Y. (2005). Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, and copper in different types of chinese tea. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 75(2), 272–277.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han, W. Y., Zhao, F. J., Shi, Y. Z., Ma, L. F., & Ruan, J. Y. (2006). Scale and causes of lead contamination in Chinese tea. Environmental Pollution, 139(1), 125–132.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committeeon Food Additives). (2003). Summary and Conclusions of the 61st Meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. JECFA/61/Sc Rome, Italy.

  • Jin, C. W., Du, S. T., Zhang, K., & Lin, X. Y. (2008). Factors determining copper concentration in tea leaves produced at Yuyao County, China. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 46(6), 2054–2061.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karak, T., & Bhagat, R. M. (2010). Trace elements in tea leaves, made tea and tea infusion: a review. Food Research International, 43(9), 2234–2252.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaushik, G., Satya, S., & Naik, S. N. (2011). Green tea: protective action against oxidative damage induced by xenobiotics. Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, 4(1), 11–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, W.-H., Zhou, H.-P., Li, N., Wang, S.-D., Liu, X.-J., Jing, Z.-J., Bu, Y.-Z., & Liu, Z.-H. (2013a). Chromium level and intake from Chinese made tea. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part B: Surveillance, 6(4), 289–293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, X., Zhang, Z., Li, P., Zhang, Q., Zhang, W., & Ding, X. (2013b). Determination for major chemical contaminants in tea (Camellia sinensis) matrices: a review. Food Research International, 53(2), 649–658.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, X., Song, Q., Tang, Y., Li, W., Xu, J., Wu, J., Wang, F., & Brookes, P. C. (2013). Human health risk assessment of heavy metals in soil-vegetable system: a multi-medium analysis. Science of the Total Environment, 463, 530–540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lv, H.-P., Lin, Z., Tian, J.-F., & Guo, L. (2013). Contents of fluoride, lead, copper, chromium, arsenic and cadmium in Chinese Pu-erh tea. Food Research International, 53(2), 938–944.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malik, J., Szakova, J., Drabek, O., Balik, J., & Kokoska, L. (2008). Determination of certain micro and macroelements in plant stimulants and their infusions. Food Chemistry, 111(2), 520–525.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto, H., Hirasawa, E., Morimura, S., & Takahashi, E. (1976). Localisation of aluminium in tea leaves. Plant and Cell Physiology, 17(3), 627–631.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie, J. S., Marcos Jurado, J., & de Pablos, F. (2010). Characterisation of tea leaves according to their total mineral content by means of probabilistic neural networks. Food Chemistry, 123(3), 859–864.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreda-Pineiro, A., Fisher, A., & Hill, S. J. (2003). The classification of tea according to region of origin using pattern recognition techniques and trace metal data. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 16(2), 195–211.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Narin, I., Colak, H., Turkoglu, O., Soylak, M., & Dogan, M. (2004). Heavy metals in black tea samples produced in Turkey. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 72(4), 844–849.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NBSC (National Bureau of Statistic of China). (2013). China Statistical Yearbook of 2013. http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2013/indexch.htm. Accessed 7 Jul 2014.

  • Nookabkaew, S., Rangkadilok, N., & Satayavivad, J. (2006). Determination of trace elements in herbal tea products and their infusions consumed in Thailand. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 54(18), 6939–6944.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Powers, K. M., Smith-Weller, T., Franklin, G. M., Longstreth, W. T., Swanson, P. D., & Checkoway, H. (2003). Parkinson's disease risks associated with dietary iron, manganese, and other nutrient intakes. Neurology, 60(11), 1761–1766.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qin, F., & Chen, W. (2007). Lead and copper levels in tea samples marketed in Beijing, China. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 79(3), 247–250.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SAC. (2006). Hygienic Standard for drinking water quality (GB 5479-2006). Beijing: Chinese Standard Publising House.

    Google Scholar 

  • SAC. (2012). Hygienic standard for green food-tea (NY/T 288–2012). Beijing: Chinese Standard Publising House.

    Google Scholar 

  • SAC (Standardiliztion Adminstration of the People’s Republic of China). (2003). Hygienic standard for tea leaves (NY 659-2003). Beijing: Chinese Standard Publising House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen, F.-M., & Chen, H.-W. (2008). Element composition of tea leaves and tea infusions and its impact on health. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 80(3), 300–304.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sofuoglu, S. C., & Kavcar, P. (2008). An exposure and risk assessment for fluoride and trace metals in black tea. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 158(2–3), 392–400.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Street, R., Szakova, J., Drabek, O., & Mladkova, L. (2006). The status of micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) in tea and tea infusions in selected samples imported to the Czech Republic. Czech Journal of Food Sciences, 24(2), 62–71.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Szymczycha-Madeja, A., Welna, M., & Pohl, P. (2012). Elemental analysis of teas and their infusions by spectrometric methods. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 35, 165–181.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US EPA. (2015). Regional Screening Level (RSL) Summary Table (TR=1E-6, HQ=1)-January 2015. www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/risk/human/rb-concentration_table/Generic_Tables/docs/master_sl_table_run_JAN2015.pdf. Accessed 3 Jan 2015.

  • US, EPA (Unite States Environmental Protection Agency). (2007). Concepts, methods and data sources for cumulative health risk assessment of multiple chemicals, exposures and effects: a resource document, EPA/600/R-06/013F. Cincinnati: National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, M. H., Zhang, Z. Q., Wong, J. W. C., & Lan, C. Y. (1998). Trace metal contents (Al, Cu and Zn) of tea: tea and soil from two tea plantations, and tea products from different provinces of China. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 20(2), 87–94.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, M., & Fang, L. (2007). Tea plantation-induced activation of soil heavy metals. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 38(11–12), 1467–1478.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, X. Q., Yi, Y., Liu, Y. L., Li, X., Liu, J. L., Jiang, Y. M., & Su, Y. Q. (2006). Direct determination of rare earth impurities in high purity erbium oxide dissolved in nitric acid by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Analytica Chimica Acta, 555(1), 57–62.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng, N., Wang, Q., & Zheng, D. (2007). Health risk of Hg, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu to the inhabitants around Huludao Zinc Plant in china via consumption of vegetables. Science of the Total Environment, 383(1–3), 81–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng, H., Li, J.-L., Li, H.-H., Hu, G.-C., & Li, H.-S. (2014). Analysis of trace metals and perfluorinated compounds in 43 representative tea products from South China. Journal of Food Science, 79(6), 1123–1129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, F., Wang, X., Fan, W., Qu, L., Qiao, M., & Yao, S. (2013). Assessment of potential health risk for arsenic and heavy metals in some herbal flowers and their infusions consumed in China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 185(5), 3909–3916.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang, P., McBride, M. B., Xia, H., Li, N., & Lia, Z. (2009). Health risk from heavy metals via consumption of food crops in the vicinity of Dabaoshan mine, South China. Science of the Total Environment, 407(5), 1551–1561.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institute (PAPD) and Scientific Research Program of Jiangxi (20133BBG70098). The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewer for their useful comments and suggestions on the manuscript revision and Miss Linxi Li for her language improvement of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China

    Lanhai Li

  2. Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Qing-Long Fu

  3. School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China

    Varenyam Achal

  4. Jiangxi Institute of Analyzing and Testing, Nanchang, 330029, China

    Qing-Long Fu & Yonglin Liu

Authors
  1. Lanhai Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Qing-Long Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Varenyam Achal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yonglin Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qing-Long Fu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, L., Fu, QL., Achal, V. et al. A comparison of the potential health risk of aluminum and heavy metals in tea leaves and tea infusion of commercially available green tea in Jiangxi, China. Environ Monit Assess 187, 228 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4445-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4445-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation