Evaluation of heavy metal concentration in black tea and coffee marketed in Erbil, Iraq: a consumer health risk assessment

Abstract

ABSTRACT Black tea and coffee are popular and widely consumed beverages worldwide. However, the potential accumulation of heavy metals in food products raises concerns regarding their toxicity. In this study, we investigated the concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) in 102 samples of black tea and coffee purchased from Erbil city market in Iraq. Additionally, we determined the Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) levels of heavy metal intake to evaluate the non-carcinogenic health risks for adult consumers. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Mn, Zn, and Fe in black tea and coffee were found to be 0.023, 0.11, 10.29, 0.60, 1.69, 294.99, 25.59, and 39.80 mg/kg, respectively. In the case of black tea, the highest mean concentration observed was 607.28 mg/kg for Mn, while the lowest was 0.035 mg/kg for Cd in coffee. Arsenic was below the detection limit in coffee. Our results revealed that, except for Cd content in some tea samples, the concentrations of the studied metals were within the standard levels. The HQ and HI values for all elements were found to be less than one, indicating no adverse health effects associated with consuming these beverages. However, continuous monitoring is essential to ensure the ongoing safety of black tea and coffee.