Industrial Research Of Iran Research Articles

Assessment of Toxic Elements and Peroxide Value in Lipsticks Collected From Karaj, Iran

The present study aimed to evaluate the levels of lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg), as well as peroxide values in 52 samples of lipstick in Karaj, Iran. The Varian Spectra AA-220 atomic absorption spectrometer was utilized to determine the concentration of metals. The average levels of the analyzed metals were in good accordance with the standard levels set by the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI 14622). The obtained results illustrated that the mean (±SE) levels of Pb, As, and Hg were 3.029±0.787, 0.546±0.090, and 0.044±0.002 µg/g, respectively. Moreover, the mean peroxide value (2.173±0.314 mEq/kg) was lower than the maximum amount set by ISIRI 14622 )10 mEq/kg). Therefore, a continuous monitoring program to ensure acceptable quality of these products along with an enhancement in the consumers’ awareness of the potential hazards of the regular use of cosmetic products is highly recommended.

The occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in milk samples of Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

In this study, the average level of aflatoxin M1 in various types of milk from 107 articles (297 studies with 16,274 milk samples) were meta-analyzed using random-effect model based on the milk varieties (animal species and heating processes), geographical regions, seasons, detection techniques and dairy farming subgroups. Studies on milk contamination with aflatoxin M1 in Iran were collected using universal and Persian databanks from January 1974 to the end of November 2021. The overall aflatoxin M1 mean concentration and prevalence in milk samples of Iran were 39.65ng/l (95% CI: 36.00-43.30) and 80% (95% CI: 76-85%), respectively. The rank order of importance of various variables in mean levels of aflatoxin M1 in milk samples included milk type (animal species) > geographical regions > detection techniques > dairy farming types > milk types (heating processes) > seasons. Findings revealed that the overall content of aflatoxin M1 in milk samples of Iran was lower than that allowed by the European Union, Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran, and the USA, possibly due to the milk monitoring by the Iranian regulatory systems.

Risk assessment of lead and cadmium concentrations in hen's eggs using Monte Carlo simulations.

The hen egg is one of the main sources of cheap, great quality, and nutritious food. This study aimed at determining the level of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in hen eggs and at assessing the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks caused by the consumption of hen eggs collected in Iran. A total of 42 hen eggs from 17 major brands were randomly sampled from supermarkets. Lead and cadmium concentrations were determined by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Additionally, using the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method to calculate dietary exposure, target hazard quotient (THQ), and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), the related human health risk associated with ingesting these hazardous metals for adults was evaluated. The average Pb and Cd concentrations in whole eggs were 7.16 ± 0.248, and 2.83 ± 0.151 μg kg-1, respectively, which were less than the maximum permitted levels, established by FAO/WHO and the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI). Pb and Cd concentrations were significantly correlated at the 0.05 level (r=0.350). Regarding the levels of Pb and Cd in eggs, overall, the estimated weekly intake (EWI) of these metals for adults by egg consumption was determined 0.014 and 0.007 mg/week, respectively, which were lower than the risk values suggested. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic indexes of Cd and Pb indicated that the adult population in Iran was safe (THQ Pb and Cd <1, ILCR <10-6 Pb). It should be emphasized that this research primarily focuses on egg consumption, which may account for a relatively small portion of Iranian consumers' overall exposure to Pb and Cd. Therefore, a comprehensive study on the risk assessment of these metals through whole-diet foods is recommended. The findings showed that lead and cadmium levels in all evaluated eggs were suitable for human consumption. Adults' Pb and Cd exposure from eating eggs was significantly lower than the risk levels established by Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), per the exposure assessment. According to the THQ values of these dangerous metals, which were below one value, egg eating by Iranian consumers does not present a non-carcinogenic risk. In addition, this finding provides accurate and reliable information for policymakers to improve food safety status to reduce public health hazards.

Survey of the Presence of Nivalenol and Deoxynivalenol in Wheat Flour Factories of Khuzestan Province, Iran

Background: Wheat is frequently contaminated by Deoxynivalenol (DON) and Nivalenol (NIV), which are type B trichothecenes produced by Fusarium fungi. Most problems related to these contaminants involve prolonged feed intake at low levels of contamination. This study investigated the occurrence of NIV and Deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat flour in flour factories in Khuzestan Providence, Iran. Methods: In total, 104 samples were collected in this study. An acetonitrile/water mixture (84:16, v/v) was used to extract the samples. The extracts were filtered and purified using a Whatman No. 4 paper and MycoSepTM 227 column. Then, they were evaporated to dryness at 40˚C under a nitrogen stream. After dissolving the dry residue in the mobile phase, containing a mixture of methanol, acetonitrile, and water (5:5:90, v/v/v), the contents of NIV and DON in the samples were measured in High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system with a column C18 (150 mm×4.6 mm ID, 5 μm) and a UV detector (220 nm). Results: The results showed that among 104 wheat flour samples, 28 (26.8%) and 54 (51.9%) samples were contaminated with NIV and DON, respectively. The mean and maximum concentrations were 118.75 and 2278 ng/g for NIV, and 593 and 67.88 ng/g for DON, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the findings, DON and NIV had significantly lower concentrations than the maximum tolerated level (1 μg/g), established by the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. Therefore, there were no health risks for consumers at the studied contamination levels.

Microbiological and Chemical Properties of Falafel Samples Collected From Street Food Market in Ahvaz, Iran

Background and Objectives Falafel is one of the most popular artisanal foods in Iran, especially in Khouzestan province. However, no comprehensive study has been performed to evaluate its microbiological and chemical properties. This study aims to evaluate microbiological and chemical properties of falafel samples collected from street food market in Ahvaz, Iran. Subjects and Methods Microbiological tests including total viable count (TVC), psychrophilic count, Escherichia coli test, staphylococcus aureus test, coliform count, bacillus cereus test, Salmonella test, and mold count were performed to evaluate microbiological properties of falafel samples (cooked and uncooked). The chemical properties were assessed by performing protein test, ash, carbohydrate, lipid, salt, peroxide, and acidity tests. All tests were done according to the methods described by the Institute of Standards &amp; Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI). Results Microbiological tests revealed that TVC (108 cfu/g), coliform count (3.7×103 cfu/g) and mold count (1.3×103 cfu/g) were significantly higher than the amounts set by the ISIRI (P&lt;0.05), indicating high contamination of uncooked falafel samples. The major problems observed by chemical tests was the high content of lipid (20.11%) and peroxide value (47.85 meq/kg) which were significantly higher than the values set by the ISIRI (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion Microbiological and chemical properties of falafel are poor, indicating the poor hygienic conditions of its preparation in street food market. We recommend more attention to and supervision on the preparation of artisanal foods such as falafel in Iran.

Survey of the salt (NaCl) Contents of Traditional Breads in Tehran, 2016‒2018: Implication for Public Health.

Background:Considering the importance of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Iran, the aim of this study is to identify the trend in the salt (NaCl) levels of various types of traditional bread (sangak, barbari, taftoon, and lavash breads) in Tehran in 2016 and 2018 and its implication for public health.Methods:A total of 777 samples of various traditional breads were randomly collected from various districts located in Tehran in 2018. The salt content (expressed as g/100 g dry weight) in these breads were determined according to Volhard method. Results from this study were compared with those reported in 2016.Results:The present study indicated that the mean salt content in traditional breads in 2018 was significantly higher than that reported in 2016. Salt content in traditional breads collected in 2018 ranged from 0.03 to 6.52/100 g dry weight, with mean value of 1.43 g/100 g dry weight. When comparing with the permitted limit set by Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI), there was an increase in the percentage of samples complying with the permitted limit; 50.8% (2016) vs 54.1% (2018).Conclusions:The daily salt intake increased from 1.56 g per person in 2016 to 2.31 g per person in 2018. Considering the high bread per capita consumption in Iran, it seems that half of the daily recommended salt intake could be reached exclusively through breads. Hence, the main strategies for salt intake reduction from bread could be achieved through evaluation of salt reduction programs and development of technological factors in bread baking.

Determination of potentially toxic metals in depilatory products in the Iranian markets: human health risk assessment.

This study aimed to investigate the concentrations of heavy metals, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), and arsenic metalloid (As), to assess their health risks in the popular depilatory products of the Iranian markets. Twenty-one samples of 7 popular brands of depilatory products, inclusive of cream and powder, were examined. Selected elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) using the appropriate procedure for acid digestion and the measurement of heavy metal contents. The differences in heavy metal concentrations were investigated according to the type of product, brand, country of production, and product price using t test and one-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey test. Finally, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessments were calculated for the studied elements. The results showed that Pb (5.46±2.30 mg/kg) and Co (0.16±0.69 mg/kg) had the highest and lowest concentrations in these products, respectively. In general, the concentration of heavy metals in depilatory creams was less than the concentration of elements in depilatory powders and less than the maximum allowable limits as defined by the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI). There was a direct and significant relationship between the concentration of heavy metals in depilatory powders and the product's price. Moreover, the amount of As in one of the brands of depilatory powder was determined to exceed the standard value (2 mg/kg). Also, hazard index (HI) and lifetime cancer risk (LCR) were below 1 and 10-6, respectively, which indicated that this mentioned heavy metal had no probable non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for consumers. According to this study, it was evident that the chances of cancer and non-cancer risk using depilatory products were unlikely, but continuous use can be harmful due to the excessive accumulation of these heavy metals.

Probabilistic health risk assessment and concentration of trace elements in meat, egg, and milk of Iran

ABSTRACT This research was performed to assess the concentration and health risk of eight trace elements (manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As)) in animal product samples (n = 120) in Markazi province of Iran by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Some trace elements such as Mn, Hg, Cu, Pb, Fe, and Zn were detected in samples while Cd and As non-detected. Fe had the highest mean level of trace elements in meat samples (1551.28 ± 83.25 μg/kg). The levels of Pb and Hg in some samples were upper than the limit of the European Commission (EC) and the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI), International/National Standards for Heavy Metals, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Deterministic and probabilistic health risk assessment approaches to evaluate of the target hazard quotients (THQ) and carcinogenic risks (CR) index were applied. The Monte Carlo probability distributions revealed that the rank order of total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) was milk > meat > egg. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic index of toxic elements indicated that exposed population in Markazi province was safe (1> THQ, 10−4> CR), except Hg exposure for children in milk.

Evaluation of natural and synthetic dyes in saffron barbecued chicken collected from meat shops and restaurants in Babol using thin-layer chromatography

Synthetic colors have advantages in comparison to natural colors, but they cause cancer, attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder, immune system suppression and vitamin deficiency. In the present study, authorized and unauthorized synthetic colors in saffron barbecued chicken from meat shops and restaurants in Babol city have been identified by thin-layer chromatography. Fifty samples of saffron barbecued chicken from meat shops and restaurants in Babol city have been collected from July to September 2019. Out of 50 samples, 20 had natural color, while 27 and 3 samples contained authorized and unauthorized synthetic colors respectively. According to the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran, the application of synthetic colors is banned in saffron barbecued chicken. Therefore, 40% were consumable and 60% were inconsumable, out of which 54% contained quinoline yellow and 6% had tartrazine. About 58.06% and 63.15% of samples from meat shops and restaurants were inconsumable, respectively. There were no significant differences regarding the frequency of the evaluated colors between samples from meat shops and restaurants (p&gt;0.05). Based on the results, it is essential that the presence of synthetic colors is traced constantly and more strictly in food products and that the perpetrators receive more serious punishment.

Comparative study of salt, total fat and sugar contents of mayonnaise and salad dressings from the Iranian market.

Dietary intake of fat, salt and sugar is important for prevention of noncommunicable diseases; therefore, evaluation of these constituents in industrial packaged foods is necessary. To compare the levels of fat, salt and sugar in mayonnaise and salad dressings commercialized in the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2017 and 2019, and to monitor compliance with standard limits. The levels of fat, salt and sugar in 12 mayonnaise and 47 salad dressing samples collected from an Iranian market were evaluated according to the Iranian Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI) and compared between 2017 and 2019. We determined compliance with ISIRI limits and other standard targets. The salt content of mayonnaise samples significantly decreased from 2.03 (standard deviation; 0.3) g/100 g in 2017 to 1.61 (0.12) g/100 g in 2019 (P = 0.031). Total sugar level of mayonnaise samples significantly decreased from 5.97 (1.14) g/100 g in 2017 to 3.63 (0.53) g/100 g in 2019 (P = 0.005). The total sugar level of salad dressings significantly decreased from 8.97 (2.34) g/100 g in 2017 to 1.58 (2.65) g/100 g in 2019 (P = 0.039). Compliance of mayonnaise and salad dressing fat contents with ISIRI limits increased from 42.9% and 84.6% in 2017 to 100% and 90.5% in 2019, respectively. None of the mayonnaise samples met the British Food Standards Agency salt target (maximum 1.25 g/100 g) in 2017 and 2019. Reformulation of these products for reduction of salt and sugar content is necessary.

Microbial and Fungal Contamination of Wheat Flour, Dough, and Bread Samples Collected from Isfahan, Iran

The present investigation was done to evaluate the microbial and fungal contamination and also molecular identification of fungal species in flour, dough and bread samples collected from Isfahan, Iran.Two-hundred and forty different types of cereals including flour, dough and bread were collected. Samples were subjected to microbial and fungal counting and also PCR-based identification of fungal species and sequencing of Aspergillus species. Ranges of total bacterial count of flour, dough and bread samples collected from breads were between 2.83±0.99 and 6.43±1.12 log cfu/g. Flour, dough and bread samples collected from bulk breads had the higher counts of total bacteria than those of flat breads. Ranges of mold count of flour, dough and bread samples collected from breads were between 0.00±0.00 and 1.63±0.63 log cfu/g. Flour, dough and bread samples collected from flat breads had the higher counts of mold than those of bulk breads.Distribution of Penicillium, Cladosporium, Mucor, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Canninghamella, Hyaline, Rhizopus, Epicoccum and Syncephalestrum amongst detected fungal colonies were 24.40%, 20.10%, 20.10%, 19.00%, 3.80%, 3.80%, 3.80%, 2.70%, 1.00% and 1.00%, respectively. Sequencing of isolated Aspergillus genus revealed that all strains were related to flavus, oryzea, terreus,andnijer species. Detected total count and mold count in studied bread samples were lower than limit standards announced by Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. However, considering the high consumption rate of these kinds of food samples among Iranian people, severe surveillance programs should perform to inhibit from their bacterial and fungal contamination.

Evaluation of Microbial Contamination of Dried Black Curd (Gharahghorut) Produced in Iran

Background and objectivesDried Black Curd (DBC), also known as Gharahghorut (Persian), is a dairy product produced from curd of yogurt or doogh. The aim of this study was to evaluate microbial contamination of industrially and traditionally produced DBC in Iran.MethodsFour DBC brands holding certification of the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI), Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education (IMHME) and ISO were purchased from a market in Tehran, Iran. Microbial monitoring for presence of coliform, Escherichia coli, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus, mold and yeast was performed using different basic, enriched, selective and differential media including peptone water agar, MacCankey agar, blood agar and brain heart infusion agar, etc. according to the ISIRI standards (No.13299).ResultsNone of the tested samples had microbial contamination. However, in one traditional DBC sample, the population of mold and yeast was higher than the acceptable level defined by the ISIRI standard.ConclusionWe found no contamination with coagulase-positive S. aureus, E. coli and coliforms in four brands of traditionally and industrially produced DBC in Iran. This indicates that the hygienic practices designated by the IMHME are well-implemented in the industrial sector. However, the mold and yeast contamination in traditionally produced DBC should be prevented by applying hygienic practices during the process of manufacturing and distribution.

Dietary Risk Reduction Projects in Industrial Foods in Iran

Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are the major cause of death worldwide. High intake of salt, sugar and fat are known as main risk factors for NCD. To address the issue some projects have been implemented in the country. This study aimed to seek for the initiatives targeting salt, sugar, and fat reduction in industrial foods and the status of implementation of food labeling. Meanwhile, we searched for studies which evaluated the above mentioned projects. We conducted an extensive review in domestic sources namely reports of national plans, protocols, dissertations, and progress reports of ongoing and terminated projects as well as rules and standards of Iran Food and Drug Administration (IFDA) and Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI). There were several main projects in the country regarding reduction of dietary risk factors in industrial foods. Traffic light food labeling scheme and restrictions on imports of palm oil or food containing it, with support from food producers and revision of food standards were main interventions which were implemented by IFDA and ISIRI, respectively. In another project implemented by National Nutrition &amp; Food Technology Research Institute (NNFTRI) the previously mentioned projects were evaluated. Results of other related projects are presented, as well. Some important steps have taken to reduce the rate of NCDs in the country. However, to achieve the goal of 25% reduction in NCDs by 2025, having a Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation (SME) plan is highly suggested to supports policymakers to take decision timely and correctly towards the enhancement of the effectiveness of the program.

Evaluation of Cadmium, Lead and Mercury Contents in Some Commercially Valuable Fish Species of Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf

BACKGROUND: Fish and fish products are consumed in many countries as a considerable source of nutrients. The heavy metals contents are known to increase drastically in the marine environment. OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the contents of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) in four com-mercially valuable fish species of the Caspian Sea (Rutilus frisii kutum) and Persian Gulf (Parastromateus niger, Pomadasys kaakan, and Scomberomorus commerson). METHODS: A total of 200 samples were collected randomly from fresh fish. A microwave-assisted digestion method was conducted to prepare fish samples and atomic absorption spectroscopy was used for determining heavy metals. RESULTS: The ranges obtained for heavy metals were 0.013-0.038, 0.127-0.352, and 0.007-0.067 mg/kg for Cd, Pb, and Hg, respectively. No fish species overpassed the standard concentrations of metals set by the national or international standards, except for the mean level of Pb in Parastromateus niger. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study indicated that Pb, Cd, and Hg were found in Iranian fish species exclu-sively in trace levels except for the Pb content of the black pomfret of the Persian Gulf. The concentrations of these elements did not exceed the legal limits of the European Commission or the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran.

The Occurrence and Risk Assessment of Aflatoxin M1 in Yoghurt Samples from Hamadan, Iran

Background: Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a hepatocarcinogenic and hydroxylated metabolite of aflatoxin B1, detected in milk and milk products. Objectives: The aim of our research was to determine the incidence and risk assessment of AFM1 through the consumption of yoghurt in Hamadan province of Iran. Methods: Fifty yoghurt samples were gathered from various areas of Hamadan province, Iran and tested for AFM1 by ELISA technique. The estimated daily intake (EDI) and the liver cancer incidence of aflatoxin M1 were determined. Results: AFM1 was detected in 43 (86%) samples, (mean: 28.56 ng/kg; range: &lt;5-98.65 ng/kg). The level of AFM1 in 9 (18%) samples was above the maximum tolerance limit (50 ng/kg). The AFM1 intake through yoghurt consumption in various population groups ranged from 0.016 to 0.032 ng/kg bw/day in mean consumers and 0.019 to 0.046 ng/kg bw/day in high consumers. Conclusion: The AFM1 intake through yoghurt contributed a slight part from the overall incidence of liver cancer in the Iranian population. From the findings of the current study, it can be derived that although the high percentage of yoghurt samples in Iran proved to be contaminated with AFM1 contents, did not show a public health concern considering the European Commission (EC) and the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI) maximum limits.

Arsenic health risk assessment and the evaluation of groundwater quality using GWQI and multivariate statistical analysis in rural areas, Hashtroud, Iran.

Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid that can cause significant health issues through drinking water. The present study was aimed to evaluate As distribution and the related health risks from drinking groundwater in rural areas of Hashtroud, Iran. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were also applied to better explain relationship pattern between different resources. The samples were taken from 51 locations in 37 villages. Arsenic concentration was determined by a polarograph device, and the corresponding carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks were calculated based on US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guideline. PCA analysis extracted four main components that explained nearly 62% of data variance. Results pointed severe As contamination in the studied area, where As was detected in 78% of the samples ranging from less than 0.001 to 0.250 mg/L. Forty percent of the contaminated places violated guideline value of 10 μg/L suggested by EPA and institute of standards and industrial research of Iran (ISIRI). Based on our findings, 1329 people including 239 children were living in the areas with higher As contamination. Hazard quotient (HQ) in 72%, 59%, and 33% of the samples was higher than one for children, adolescent, and adult age groups, respectively. Excess life time cancer risk (ELCR) in almost 80% of all age groups was significantly higher than EPA recommended guideline (10-4 or 10-6). In summary, from the view point of arsenic HQ and ELCR, water resources in the studied areas were not appropriate for drinking and hygienic purposes; necessary and urgent management strategies to guarantee water supply and health safety for local residents should be considered.

Probabilistic health risk assessment (Monte Carlo simulation method) and prevalence of aflatoxin B1 in wheat flours of Iran

ABSTRACT The prevalence of aflatoxins (AFB1) in Iranian wheat flours was determined by immunoaffinity chromatography (HPLC). A total of 180 wheat flour and 60 wheat bran samples including three types of flour and wheat bran were collected from different manufacturers. Also, human health risk assessment of aflatoxins due to consumption of wheat flours by children and adults was calculated using the Margin of Exposure (MOE) approach in the Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm. Considering the limit of detection of the current study, 144 out of 180 wheat flour samples and 54 out of 60 wheat bran samples were positive for aflatoxin B1. The amounts of AFB1 in wheat flour and wheat bran samples were detected to be 0.01–0.5 ng/g and 0.06–0.99 ng/g, respectively. The highest mean values of AFB1 were observed in Sangag, Barbary and Tafton flours from different manufacturers with amount of 0.5, 0.4 and 0.3 ng/g, respectively. Despite the contamination of wheat flour and wheat bran samples, AFB1 values were not higher than the limit of Institute of Standards & Industrial Research of Iran (5 ng/g) and European Union (2 ng/g). The mean of chronic daily intake in the adults and children on the basis of consumption of AFB1 in total samples was estimated to be as 0.26 and 0.04 mg/kg-d, respectively. The percentile 95 of MOE in total samples of flours in the adult and children were calculated as 1072 and 647, respectively. However, human health evaluation showed that both children and adult in the Alborz State are at remarkable cancer risk. Hence, national program is necessary to focus on this problem and firm inspection of wheat flours by the regulatory organs.

Chemical and Microbiological Quality of Traditional and Industrial Lime Juice Produced in Kashan, Iran

Background: Lime juice is a nutritious drink, which is generally consumed for its' refreshing properties, nutritive value, vitamin content, and health benefits. Therefore, the chemical and microbiological quality of the traditional and industrial lime juice produced in Kashan city was assessed. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 106 samples were collected and screened for total soluble solid (TSS), pH, acidic value, protein content, mold, yeast, and count of acid-tolerant bacteria according to the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI). Results: Of the total samples, 66 samples (62.26%) were within the Iran’s national standard range. Most samples that did not meet the national standard requirements, were related to traditional samples (70.24%) compared to industrial samples (31.82%, P &lt; 0.001). No significant difference was found between pH and protein of traditional and industrial lime juice samples (P &gt; 0.05), while TSS and acidic values in traditional lime juices were less than those of the industrial lime juice (P &lt; 0.05). Additionally, the mold and yeast contaminations in traditional lime juices were more than industrial lime juices (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: In overall, traditional lime juice samples had the most microbial and chemical contaminations. It is necessary to increase the regular monitoring by relevant organizations over quality of the produced lime juices.

Determining additional risk of carcinogenicity and non-carcinogenicity of heavy metals (lead and arsenic) in raw and as-consumed samples of imported rice in Tehran, Iran

Rice is considered the most main food in Iranian diet. Its chemical contamination with heavy metals can lead to adverse effects to human health. In the present study, 60 imported rice samples from 20 different brands were collected and examined in terms of lead and arsenic levels in Tehran. Besides, point estimation and uncertainty analysis were used to determine the additional risk of carcinogenicity and non-carcinogenicity in raw and as-consumed rice. The results showed that the means of lead and arsenic (mg/kg fresh weight) in raw sampled rice were 0.0352 ± 0.0398 and 0.106 ± 0.049, respectively, and they were 0.0226 ± 0.0360 and 0.0689 ± 0.046 in as-consumed rice, respectively. Additionally, lead and arsenic amounts were 5% and 15% higher than the value set by Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran respectively, while assessment of the non-carcinogenicity risk of lead and arsenic in point estimation and uncertainty analysis showed the hazard quotient and hazard index values were less than 1 and in safe ranges in both raw and as-consumed rice and were not considered a threat to the public health. The additional risk of arsenic carcinogenicity in point estimation and uncertainty analysis in raw and as-consumed rice samples found higher than the 1E-06 EPA's acceptable level of risk. So, these results could be applicable and encourage researchers to perform more detailed studies with more samples for considering by food authorities.

The effect of standardization of industries on life cycle embodied energy of residential buildings in Iran

In the present study, the effect of the laws and regulations of the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI) in four industry sectors including Steel and Iron, Tile, Ceramic, Cement, and Brick on the life cycle embodied energy of buildings was investigated. Globally, 20.1% of the total world annual final energy consumption is found in the building sector consists of residential and commercial users. Energy consumption in buildings is found in different forms, including the production of primary materials, their transportation to the building site, construction, operation, renovation, maintenance, and demolition. In this research, different solutions were considered, and hybrid input-output analysis was chosen as an effective method to find primary embodied energy in buildings. The embodied energy of four high-consuming sectors in Iran was substituted with input-output data to increase the reliability of the study. The embodied energy of the building in the present case study is 10.71 GJ/m2 in 25 years of usage. Using the laws and regulations of ISIRI in 2006, which reports the standard energy use in four main industries in Iran, the embodied energy is reduced to 9.15 GJ/m2 in 25 years of usage, which shows that a significant amount of energy (1911 GJ primary energy) and greenhouse gases (141.2 kg GHGs) could be saved in the case study’s building. Further data collection in other industry sectors like aluminum, glass, and paint will change the results and increase the reliability of the research.