Abstract
The paper aimed to analyse the safety of drinking coffee by adult Poles in terms of Pb and Cd content. The degree to which Cd and Pb passed from coffee grounds into the coffee infusion was also examined. Twenty-three samples of natural coffee were examined. The content of metals was determined using the ICP method. On average, dry coffee contained ca. 0.004 μg Cd and 0.05 μg Pb per 1 g, and 95.5% Cd and 94% Pb passed into the infusion. Drinking coffee supplies these metals in the amount of less than 2% TWI (tolerable weekly intake) for Cd and BMDL (benchmark dose lower confidence limit) for Pb. In the presented studies, the values of CDI (chronic daily intake), THQ (target hazard quotient) and HI (hazard index) indicators were lower than 1, which means that the risk of developing diseases connected with chronic exposure to Cd and Pb consumed with coffee must be evaluated as very low. The content of Cd and Pb in the analysed coffee infusions was very low, so drinking coffee does not pose a risk for consumers in terms of the content of these metals. However, it must be remembered that no threshold limits for toxic metal consumption exist because these metals accumulate in the body for a long time. The studies presented here also showed a low (r = 0.26) but still a positive correlation between the content of Pb in coffee and the degree (%) to which Pb passed into the infusion. This problem should be thoroughly investigated.
Highlights
Coffee, next to tea, is one of the most popular drinks in the world [1]
Where EDI is the estimated daily intake of Cd and Pb, calculated on the basis of the mean weekly consumption of coffee and mean level of Cd and Pb; EFr is the days of exposure frequency (365 per year); EDtot is the exposure duration—since in Poland regular coffee drinkers are adults only, it was assumed that the time of exposure was calculated from 18 to 74 years of age (74 years— average life span in Poland), which is 56 years; AT is the period of exposure (365 per year)
Pattern 1: 1 cup of coffee a day The estimated weekly intake (EWI) of Cd with coffee infusion is 0.156 μg, which accounts for about 0.09% Tolerable weekly intake % (TWI)
Summary
Next to tea, is one of the most popular drinks in the world [1]. It is a source of antioxidants including caffeine, phenolic compounds and diterpenes. According to available literature and own studies, the content of Cd. and Pb in food products normally does not exceed acceptable standard levels, due to the fact that these metals are capable of accumulating in tissues and have a long half-life: 5–30 years for Cd and from 30 days (in soft tissue) to 10 years (in bones) for Pb [18], their regular supply, even in small amounts, is dangerous. Pb in food products normally does not exceed acceptable standard levels, due to the fact that these metals are capable of accumulating in tissues and have a long half-life: 5–30 years for Cd and from 30 days (in soft tissue) to 10 years (in bones) for Pb [18], their regular supply, even in small amounts, is dangerous These metals display mutagenic, teratogenic, carcinogenic and embryotoxic effects [19]. The presented results are a part of the project aiming to estimate the intake of minerals (toxic and essential) in the Polish population
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