Evaluation of heavy metals contamination in Iranian foodstuffs: canned tomato paste and tomato sauce (ketchup).
One hundred and thirty-five samples of canned tomato paste and 30 tomato sauces (ketchup) samples (23 and 10 brands, respectively) purchased from wholesale markets in the Tehran, Iran, during the period 2010-2013 were analysed. Levels of lead and cadmium were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GF-AAS) and arsenic by hydride vapour generation (HG-AAS or VGA). Average concentration of arsenic found in the tomato paste and ketchup samples was 62 ± 14 and 48 ± 12 ng g(-1), respectively. Cadmium values in 7% of tomato paste and 10% of ketchup samples were below the limit of quantification (LOQ). Lead concentrations were below LOQ in 75% of tomato paste and 77% of ketchup samples. Values obtained for these heavy metals in all samples were lower than the limits of national and international standards.
a Heavy Metals Analysis Laboratory , Food and Drug Laboratory Research Center, Food and Drug Organization , Tehran , Iran.
Mohammad Rasoul
MR
Hadiani
Roqieh
R
Farhangi
Homeira
H
Soleimani
Hossein
H
Rastegar
Abdol Majid
AM
Cheraghali
D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D007492:Iran; D057230:Limit of Detection; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D012015:Reference Standards; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
D019216:Metals, Heavy
arsenic; cadmium; heavy metals; ketchup; lead; microwave digestion; tomato paste