title: Heavy metals in aromatic spices by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.
abstract: Objective of this study was to determine the content of Cd, Hg, As and Pb in common spices traded in the Italian market, using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results were compared with the maximum limits established by the national Legislative Decree (LD) no. 107 implementing the Council Directive 88/388/EEC and by international organisations, such as Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO). Food safety for spices was assessed considering the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) and the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), respectively, for Cd and Hg and the 95% lower confidence limit of the benchmark dose of 1% extra risk (BMDL01) for As and Pb. Investigated elements in all samples were within the maximum limits as set by the national and international normative institutions. Nevertheless, the heavy metal content of some spices exceeded the PTWI, TWI and BMDL01, which needs attention when considering consumer's health.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dental and Morphological and Functional Images , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Daniel Giuseppe
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Bua
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dental and Morphological and Functional Images , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Annuario
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dental and Morphological and Functional Images , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.|b Science 4 Life S.r.l ., A Spin-off of the University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Ambrogina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albergamo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dental and Morphological and Functional Images , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.|b Science 4 Life S.r.l ., A Spin-off of the University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dental and Morphological and Functional Images , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.|b Science 4 Life S.r.l ., A Spin-off of the University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dugo
mesh_terms: D053000:Analytic Sample Preparation Methods; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D002138:Calibration; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D005062:European Union; D005506:Food Contamination; D005513:Food Inspection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000032:analysis; D006868:Hydrolysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D038622:Internationality; D007558:Italy; D007881:Legislation, Food; D057230:Limit of Detection; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D008872:Microwaves; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D017365:Spices / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D014480:United Nations; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Heavy metals; ICP-MS; risk assessment; spices; trace elements