Health-risk Assessment and Evaluation of Different Metals in Different Tea Products Consumed in Jordan Using ICP-MS and ICP-OES

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the concentrations of heavy metals and trace elements in black, green, white and oolong tea samples in different brands that are widely consumed in Jordan to assess the health risk associated with their consumption. Inductively Coupled Plasma equipped with Mass Spectrometry and Optical Emission Spectrophoto¬metry (ICP-MS/OES) were used for analysis after sample preparation. The mean concentrations of Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Mo, Pb, Sn, Cd, Ca, Fe, K, Mg and Na were found to be in the range of not detected to 135.4 mg/kg and 0.10–389.93 mg/kg for both infused and digested samples, respectively. The daily intake of Ca, K, Na and Mg was found in the range of 0.31–9.03% of their Recommended Dietary Intake (RDA). The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Hazard Index (HI) and Target Cancer Risk (TR) were used for the assessment of health risks associated with the metals’ intake. THQ, HI and TR values of all elements were found to be below the allowable limits determined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Environmental Protection Agent (US-EPA), suggesting that the consumption of different tea products from the Jordanian market does not pose a significant risk to human health.