Potential toxic elements (PTEs) concentration in wheat and flour products in Iran: A probabilistic risk assessment

The aim of This study was to assess the concentration of potential toxic elements (PTEs) in wheat, flour of Sangak, and Lavash bread samples and the possible effect of the milling process due to a depreciation of the device. Levels of PTEs in tested samples (n = 270) from 10 factories in Iran were determined by ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry). In addition, the associated human health risk due to consumption of wheat, Sangak and Lavash bread flours in adults and children was estimated. In this approach, percentile 95% hazard quotient (HQ), Hazard index (HI), and Total Hazard Index (THI) was used as a symptom for endangering the consumer people health. A significant difference was detected in Ni concentration between wheat and two brands of flours i.e., Sangak and Lavash samples. The PTEs concentration order in the wheat and flour samples was Fe > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb > As > Cd, respectively. Consistent with findings, the concentration of PTEs in all samples was less than the permitted limit set by the European Commission and JECFA committee. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic human health risk assessment (HRA) was calculated. Bread consumption per capita is 0.45 kg for adults and 0.27 kg for children per day. The results showed that both adults and children groups are not at remarkable health risk for PTEs at mean HQ, HI, THI <1 and ELCR <10E-4, but for HRA at the percentile 95% showed there is HRA of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic disease for children group (HQ, HI, THI >1 and ELCR >10E-4).