title: Aluminium and fluoride concentrations of three tea varieties growing at Lantau Island, Hong Kong.
abstract: The present project aims to investigate aluminium (Al) and fluoride (F) contents in teas (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze). Three different commercial tea varieties: Assam variety and two China sub-varieties, a large leafed variety and small leafed variety, were collected in two tea gardens of Lantau Island tea plantation of Hong Kong. In general, high concentrations of Al and F were accumulated in the mature leaves (15.3 and of 2.07 g kg-1 respectively). Among the three varieties, 'the small leafed' variety exhibited the highest Al and F contents followed by the 'large leafed' variety whereas the Assam variety had the lowest Al and F concentrations in its tea bushes. Tea products from a plantation were also analysed and it was noted that black tea had higher Al and F concentrations than green tea. The amount of Al and F released into tea liquor was also tested and the results showed that higher concentrations of Al and F were released into tea liquor under repeated infusion method than continuous infusion method.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Department of Biology, 224 Waterloo Road, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Z Q
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D028244:Camellia / Q000737:chemistry*; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006723:Hong Kong; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013662:Tea; D000535:Aluminum; D005459:Fluorides