Health Risk from Heavy Metal Contamination in Maize

Adnan. Al-Trbany ^1,2*, Ali H. Elsayed.², Abd El-Hakim A. Fawzy. ², Mona A. Khorshed ¹

Heavy metal contamination in maize threatens global food safety, potentially causing severe health issues and necessitating stringent regulatory measures to protect public health and agriculture.

Abstract

Background: Maize (Zea mays) and its derived products are critical transgenic crops, widely consumed globally. In 2022/2023, maize consumption reached approximately 45,882 million bushels worldwide and 646 million bushels in Egypt, making it a significant dietary staple alongside wheat and rice. This study evaluates heavy metal concentrations in maize and its products, estimating the element concentration factor (mg/kg) and assessing potential health risks due to toxic heavy metals. Methods: Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr), along with non-toxic elements including iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), and tin (Sn), were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following high-performance microwave digestion. The estimated provisional weekly intake (EPTWI) was compared to the accepted provisional weekly intake (APTWI) set by the FAO/WHO and JECFA. Results: The study revealed that Fe had the highest concentration (73.39 mg/kg) and As the lowest (0.03 mg/kg) in white corn samples. White corn flour showed the highest concentration of Fe (40.233 mg/kg) and the lowest of Pb (0.185 mg/kg). Yellow corn contained the highest Fe concentration (47.27 mg/kg) and the lowest Pb (0.915 mg/kg), while yellow corn flour had the highest Fe concentration (89.77 mg/kg) and the lowest Sb (0.03 mg/kg). The weekly intakes of essential elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) and toxic elements (As, Cd, Sn, Sb, and Pb) were significantly below the recommended tolerable levels. Conclusion: The heavy metal concentrations in maize and its derived products were within safe limits, indicating minimal risk from dietary intake. This study underscores the importance of regular monitoring to ensure food safety and public health.

Keywords: Heavy Metals, Maize Contamination, Health Risk Assessment, Food Safety, Agricultural Pollution,

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