Investigation of Pesticide Residues and Heavy Metals Content in Various Peppermint Samples

Abstract

Taking into consideration, that peppermint tea is frequently used in phytotherapy due to its wide range of therapeutic effects, ten samples of peppermint leaves were analysed in order to assess the level of pesticide residues and heavy metals. Pesticide residues were under the detection limit for six samples. However, in four peppermint samples we have determined λcyhalothrin (42-45 µg/kg), chlorpyrifos-ethyl (20-43 µg/kg), and cyfluthrin (78 ± 21 µg/kg), in concentrations below the maximum residues limits. In order to evaluate the negative impact of pesticides on patients health, a sample was spiked with the most common pesticide residues used in agricultural practice, by accumulation in the herbal product (diphenylamine 195.8 ± 16 µg/kg, chlorpropham 108.6 ± 12.4 µg/kg, hexachlorobenzene 76.7 ± 6 µg/kg, tolclofos-methyl 111.4 ± 39 µg/kg, cyfluthrin 472.7 ± 39.7 µg/kg). Moreover, we have observed that pesticide residues had a high transfer rate in infusion (diphenylamine 71.5%, chlorpropham 158.4%, chlordane-gamma 63%, tolclofos-methyl 61.5%). From the point of view of the heavy metals content, the sample shown concentrations over allowed limits (cadmium 98 µg/kg, copper 7140 µg/kg, lead 1500 µg/kg, mercury 170 µg/kg), some being transferable in infusion (nickel 123.3 %, copper 28%). Rezumat În acest studiu au fost analizate zece probe de frunze de mentă în scopul evaluării nivelului de reziduuri de pesticide şi metale grele. Reziduurile de pesticide au fost sub limita de detecţie pentru şase probe, iar în patru probe de mentă au fost determinate λ-cihalotrin (42-45 µg/kg), clorpirifos-etil (20-43 µg/kg), şi ciflutrin (78 ± 21 µg/kg), în concentrații sub limitele maximale. Pentru a evalua impactul negativ al pesticidelor asupra sănătății pacienților, o probă a fost fortificată cu cele m ai frecvent folosite pesticide în practica agricolă, constatându-se o acumulare în produsul vegetal (difenilamină 195,8 ± 16 µg/kg, clorprofam 108,6 ± 12,4 µg/kg, hexaclorbenzen 76,7 ± 6 µg/kg, tolclofos-metil 111,4 ± 39 µg/kg, ciflutrin 472,7 ± 39,7 µg/kg). Am constatat faptul că reziduurile de pesticide prezintă o rată de transfer crescută în infuzie (difenilamină 71,5%, clorprofam 158,4%, clordane-gamma 63%, tolclofos-metil 61,5%). Din punct de vedere al conținutului de metale grele, proba prezintă concentrații peste limitele permise (cadmiu 98 µg/kg, cupru 7140 µg/kg, plumb 1500 µg/kg, mercur 170 µg/kg), unele fiind transferabile în infuzie (nichel 123,3%, cupru 28%).

Human health risk assessment of heavy metals in drinking water sources in three senatorial districts of Anambra State, Nigeria

“…These HMs can cause toxicity if their allowable levels are surpassed [3] . The HMs are non-biodegradable and may amass in the ecosystem reaching unsafe proportion for human health [4] , [5] . Besides raw sources of water, water packaging materials have become major sources of contaminants in bottled and sachet water [3] .…”

Physico-Chemical Parameters Used for Soil Characterization and Pollution Evaluation in Racos Volcano Area, Brașov, Romania

“…The presence of metal ions in soil may have beneficial effects on vegetation development, or may have toxic effects on soil biology by affecting the biochemical processes that occur in the soil, depending on their type [5,16]. Interestingly, recent research on spices and medicinal plants from the South-East region of Romania indicated that wild-growing plants found near industrial areas can accumulate iron and copper in variable amounts, in certain cases the values exceeding the limits imposed within EU [9,16]. Therefore, a proper assessment and monitoring of the soil would greatly increase the quality of the edible and medicinal plants.…”

“…The pollution of the environment with heavy metals, including copper, is a major problem worldwide [9,16,18,21,23]. Enzymatic reactions are inhibited in soil microbiota by metals through several mechanisms, such as: complexation of the substrate, combination with the active protein groups of the enzymes and reaction with the enzyme-substrate complex.…”

“…Moreover, the soil contamination represents an important factor for the vegetal plant material that is intended for human and animal consumption, or for therapeutical use. Pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides and drug residues that may contaminate the plants have usually high transfer rates in various extracts, and thus induce health risks for the consumer [9,16,18,19]. Higher soil contamination is usually correlated with higher levels of contaminant both in edible and medicinal plants [5,9,18,21].…”

“…Pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides and drug residues that may contaminate the plants have usually high transfer rates in various extracts, and thus induce health risks for the consumer [9,16,18,19]. Higher soil contamination is usually correlated with higher levels of contaminant both in edible and medicinal plants [5,9,18,21].…”