«Department of scientific and publishing activities»
Ru En
Open access
Subscription/purchasing
Submit manuscript
Home >Foods and Raw Materials > Archive > Volume 9, Issue 1, 2021 > Lead exposure through eggs in Iran: health risk assessment
ISSN 2308-4057 (Print),
ISSN 2310-9599 (Online)

Lead exposure through eggs in Iran: health risk assessment

Sajad Faryabi a
,
Mohsen Ghorbiani a
,
Hadi Haghbin Nazarpak b
,
Azadeh Rashidimehr a,c
Affiliation
a Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
b Islamic Azad University of Garmsar, Garmsar, Iran
c Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
Copyright ©Faryabi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license.
Received 09 February, 2021 | Accepted in revised form 05 March, 2021 | Published 15 April, 2021
DOI: http://doi.org/10.21603/2308-4057-2021-1-184-191
Abstract
Introduction. Contamination of food, including animal protein sources, with heavy metals is a major threat to humans. The aim of this research was to determine lead concentrations in eggs from different Iranian regions and assess risks to human health.
Study objects and methods. In this study, lead concentrations in eggs produced at laying hen farms in Qom, Isfahan (Kashan city), and Khorasan Razavi (Mashhad city) provinces were measured by an atomic absorption device. Health risk was estimated using the Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) model.
Results and discussion. The levels of lead in eggs were significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) among the three regions. They were lower than the permissible limit (0.1 mg/kg) for Kashan (0.0756 mg/kg) and Mashhad (0.0633 mg/kg), but eggs from Qom contained 0.1163 mg/kg of lead. In all the three regions, the estimated daily intake (EDI) of lead was lower than the maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI), indicating no health risk for lead through egg consumption among Iranian consumers. Also, no risks were detected for adults in terms of non-cancer risk, or target hazard quotients (THQ), and carcinogenic risk (CR) of lead (THQ < 1 and CR < 10–6).
Conclusion. The results of this study indicated that lead health risk through egg consumption is within safe limits. However, the nutritional importance and high consumption of eggs among households necessitate a more careful monitoring of lead concentrations to meet public health requirements.
Keywords
Heavy metals, laying hen farm, estimated daily intake (EDI), carcinogenic risk (CR), lead, eggs
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
This study was not funded by any grants from financing institutions in the public, business, or not-for-profit sectors.
FUNDING
This study was not funded by any grants from financing institutions in the public, business, or not-for-profit sectors.
REFERENCES
  1. Hu Y, Cheng H, Tao S. Environmental and human health challenges of industrial livestock and poultry farming in China and their mitigation. Environment International. 2017;107:111–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2017.07.003.
  2. Aendo P, Thongyuan S, Songserm T, Tulayakul P. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessment of heavy metals contamination in duck eggs and meat as a warning scenario in Thailand. Science of the Total Environment. 2019;689:215–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.414.
  3. Giri S, Singh AK. Heavy metals in eggs and chicken and the associated human health risk assessment in the mining areas of Singhbhum copper belt, India. Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health. 2019;74(4):167–170. https://doi.org/10.1080/19338244.2017.1407284.
  4. Aendo P, Netvichian R, Viriyarampa S, Songserm T, Tulayakul P. Comparison of zinc, lead, cadmium, cobalt, manganese, iron, chromium and copper in duck eggs from three duck farm systems in Central and Western, Thailand. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 2018;161:691–698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.06.052.
  5. Hashemi M, Sadeghi A, Saghi M, Aminzare M, Raeisi M, Rezayi M, et al. Health risk assessment for human exposure to trace metals and arsenic via consumption of hen egg collected from largest poultry industry in Iran. Biological Trace Element Research. 2019;188(2):485–493. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1437-4.
  6. Wang R, Zhong B, Pi L, Xie F, Chen M, Ding S, et al. Concentrations and exposure evaluation of metals in diverse food items from Chengdu, China. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 2018;74(1):131–139. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-017-0420-y.
  7. Sobhakumari A, Hargrave SA, Hill AE, Poppenga RH. Lead contamination in backyard chicken layer flocks in California. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 2019;31(3):359–363. https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638718792046.
  8. Ferreyra H, Beldomenico PM, Marchese K, Romano M, Caselli A, Correa AI, et al. Lead exposure affects health indices in free-ranging ducks in Argentina. Ecotoxicology. 2015;24(4):735–745. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-015-1419-7.
  9. Kim J, Oh J-M. Trace element concentrations in eggshells and egg contents of black-tailed gull (Larus crassirostris) from Korea. Ecotoxicology. 2014;23(7):1147–1152. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-014-1256-0.
  10. Kovochich M, Fung C-CD, Avanasi R, Madl AK. Review of techniques and studies characterizing the release of carbon nanotubes from nanocomposites: Implications for exposure and human health risk assessment. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. 2018;28(3):203–215. https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2017.6.
  11. Tavakoly Sany SB, Hashim R, Salleh A, Rezayi M, Karlen DJ, Razavizadeh BBM, et al. Dioxin risk assessment: mechanisms of action and possible toxicity in human health. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2015;22(24):19434–19450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5597-x.
  12. Tehrani GM, Hashim R, Sulaiman AH, Sany BT, Salleh A, Jazani RK, et al. Distribution of total petroleum hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in musa bay sediments (Northwest of the Persian Gulf). Environment Protection Engineering. 2013;39(1):115–128.
  13. Evaluation of certain food additives andcontaminants. WHO Technical Report Series No. 776. Geneva: FAO/WHO; 1989.
  14. Grace EJ, MacFarlane GR. Assessment of the bioaccumulation of metals to chicken eggs from residential backyards. Science of the Total Environment. 2016;563–564:256–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.128.
  15. Kanstrup N, Chriél M, Dietz R, Søndergaard J, Balsby TJS, Sonne C. Lead and other trace elements in Danish birds of prey. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 2019;77(3):359–367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-019-00646-5.
  16. Spliethoff HM, Mitchell RG, Ribaudo LN, Taylor O, Shayler HA, Greene V, et al. Lead in New York City community garden chicken eggs: Influential factors and health implications. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. 2014;36(4):633–649. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-013-9586-z.
  17. Hashish SM, Abdel-Samee LD, Abdel-Wahhab MA. Mineral and heavy metals content in eggs of local hens at different geographic areas in Egypt. Global Veterinaria. 2012;8(3):298–304.
  18. Bautista AC, Puschner B, Poppenga RH. Lead exposure from backyard chicken eggs: A public health risk? Journal of Medical Toxicology: Official Journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology. 2014;10(3):311 – 315. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-014-0409-0.
  19. Smith E, Beamer SK, Matak KE, Jaczynski J. Storage stability of egg sticks fortified with omega-3 fatty acids. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2018;98(9):3452–3461. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.8858.
  20. The world of eggs [Internet]. [cited 2021 Jan 20]. Available from: https://www.huhtamaki.com/globalassets/global/highlights/trends/huhtamaki_focus_report_the_world_of_egg.pdf.
  21. Livestock production [Internet]. [cited 2021 Jan 20]. Available from: https://www.fao.org/3/y4252e/y4252e07.htm.
  22. Khan K, Naeem M. Simultaneous determination of accumulated hazardous metals in hen’s egg by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Journal of Applied Sciences. 2006;6(1):198–201. https://doi.org/10.3923/jas.2006.198.201.
  23. González F, López I, Suarez L, Moraleda V, Rodríguez C. Levels of blood lead in Griffon vultures from a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Spain. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 2017;143:143–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.05.010.
  24. Roegner A, Giannitti F, Woods L, Mete A, Puschner B. Public health implications of lead poisoning in backyard chickens and cattle: four cases. Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports. 2013;4:11–20. https://doi.org/10.2147/VMRR.S36083.
  25. Nutrient requirements of poultry. Ninth Revised Edition. Washington: National Academy Press; 1994. 176 p.
  26. Official Method 999.11. Lead, cadmium, copper, iron and zinc in foods atomic absorption spectrophotometry after dry ashing. AOAC; 1999.
  27. Intake of fish and shellfish. In: Exposure factors handbook 2011 edition (final report). Washington: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 2011. pp. 10–206.
  28. Integrated risk information system [Internet]. [cited 2021 Jan 20]. Available from: https://www.epa.gov/iris.
  29. Guidelines for carcinogen risk assessment. Washington: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 2005.
  30. Griboff J, Wunderlin DA, Monferran MV. Metals, As and Se determination by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in edible fish collected from three eutrophic reservoirs. Their consumption represents a risk for human health? Microchemical Journal. 2017;130:236–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2016.09.013.
  31. Egg consumption per capita in Iran [Internet]. [cited 2021 Jan 20]. Available from: http://www.helgilibrary.com/indicators/egg-consumption-per-capita/iran/.
  32. Kamalzadeh A, Rajabbaigy M, Moslehi H, Torkashvand R. Poultry production systems in Iran. Book of Proceedings 2nd Mediterranean Summit of WPSA; 2009; Antalya. Antalya: WPSA; 2009. p. 189–195.
  33. Risk assessment guidance for superfund. Volume I. Human health evaluation manual. Washington: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 1989. 291 p.
  34. Risk-based concentration table. Washington: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 2010.
  35. Codex general standard for contaminants and toxins in food and feed (Codex Stan 193-1995). 2005. 59 p.
  36. Islam MS, Ahmed MK, Habibullah-Al-Mamun M. Determination of Heavy Metals in Fish and Vegetables in Bangladesh and Health Implications. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment. 2015;21(4):986–1006. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2014.950172.
  37. Wolf P, Cappai MG. Levels of Pb and Cd in single feeding stuffs and compound feeds for poultry. Biological Trace Element Research. 2021;199(3):1074–1079. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02197-6.
  38. Opinion of the scientific panel on contaminants in the food chain on a request from the commission related to lead as undesirable substance in animal feed. 2004. pp. 1–20.
  39. Esposito M, Cavallo S, Chiaravalle E, Miedico O, Pellicanò R, Rosato G, et al. Trace elements in free-range hen eggs in the Campania region (Italy) analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 2016;188(6). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5316-1.
  40. Bargellini A, Marchesi I, Rizzi L, Cauteruccio L, Masironi R, Simioli M, et al. Selenium interactions with essential and toxic elements in egg yolk from commercial and fortified eggs. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 2008;22(3):234–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2008.03.004.
  41. Zariff RZ, Pumpa L, Simon DL, Lewis C. Locally produced chicken eggs – a source of dietary lead for an Australian community living with an active lead smelter? Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. 2019;29(5):688–696. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-018-0082-5.
  42. Farahani S, Eshghi N, Abbasi A, Karimi F, Shiri Malekabad E, Rezaei M. Determination of heavy metals in albumen of hen eggs from the Markazi Province (Iran) using ICP-OES technique. Toxin Reviews. 2015;34(2):96 – 100. https://doi.org/10.3109/15569543.2015.1040166.
  43. Uluozlu OD, Tuzen M, Mendil D, Soylak M. Assessment of trace element contents of chicken products from Turkey. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2009;163(2–3):982–987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.07.050.
  44. Kirkpatrick DC, Coffin DE. Trace metal content of chicken eggs. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 1975;26(1):99–103. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2740260112.
  45. Basha AM, Yasovardhan N, Satyanarayana SV, Reddy GVS, Kumar AV. Assessment of heavy metal content of the hen eggs in the surroundings of uranium mining area, India. Annals Food Science and Technology. 2013;14(2):344–349.
  46. Abdulkhaliq A, Swaileh KM, Hussein RM, Matani M. Levels of metals (Cd, Pb, Cu and Fe) in cow’s milk, dairy products and hen’s eggs from the West Bank, Palestine. International Food Research Journal. 2012;19(3):1089–1094.
  47. Khan Z, Sultan A, Khan R. Concentrations of heavy metals and minerals in poultry eggs and meat produced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Meat Sciences and Veterinary Public Health. 2016;1(1):4–10.
  48. Bryan Jr. AL, Hopkins WA, Baionno JA, Jackson BP. Maternal transfer of contaminants to eggs in common grackles (Quiscalus quiscala) nesting on coal fly ash basins. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 2003;45(2):273–277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-002-0212-9.
  49. Surai PF. Natural antioxidants in avian nutrition andreproduction. Nottingham: Nottingham University Press; 2002. 616 p.
  50. Hui CA. Concentrations of chromium, manganese, and lead in air and in avian eggs. Environmental Pollution. 2002;120(2):201–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(02)00158-6.
  51. Shokrzadeh M, Abdollahi M, Malekirad A-A, Mohseni H-S, Bayrami Z, Khaksar S, et al. Reviewing the lead and cadmium concentrations of Arak traffic officers and taxi drivers’ blood in 2013, Iran. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. 2014;23(2):28–35.
  52. Fakayode SO, Olu-Owolabi IB. Trace metal content and estimated daily human intake from chicken eggs in Ibadan, Nigeria. Archives of Environmental Health. 2003;58(4):245–251. https://doi.org/10.3200/AEOH.58.4.245-251.
  53. Wang X, Sato T, Xing B, Tao S. Health risks of heavy metals to the general public in Tianjin, China via consumption of vegetables and fish. Science of the Total Environment. 2005;350(1–3):28–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.09.044.
  54. Jusko TA, Henderson Jr. CR, Lanphear BP, Cory-Slechta DA, Parsons PJ, Canfield RL. Blood lead concentrations <10 microg/dL and child intelligence at 6 years of age. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2008;116(2):243–248. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.10424.
  55. Miranda ML, Kim D, Galeano MAO, Paul CJ, Hull AP, Morgan SP. The relationship between early childhood blood lead levels and performance on end-of-grade tests. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2007;115(8):1242–1247. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.9994.
  56. Ki SA, Khaniki GJ, Shariatifar N, Nazmara S, Akbarzadeh A. Contamination of chicken eggs supplied in Tehran by heavy metals and calculation of their daily intake. Journal of Health in the Field. 2017;2(4).
How to quote?
Faryabi S, Ghorbiani M, Nazarpak HH, Rashidimehr A. Lead exposure through eggs in Iran: health risk assessment. Foods and Raw Materials. 2021;9(1):184–191. https://doi.org/10.21603/2308-4057-2021-1-184-191
About journal

Download
Contents
Abstract
Keywords
Conflicts of interest
Funding
References
Foods and Raw Materials uses cookies. By continuing to use the portal, you agree to the storage and use of cookies by the portal and partner sites on your device.
Manage files