Analysis of Elements and Physicochemical and Microbial Properties of Iranian Honeys.

Honey is one of the most valuable food products, which, in addition to its nutritional value, also has therapeutic properties. In our study, the physicochemical (Brix, viscosity, free acid content, pH, moisture, diastase activity, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), proline content, sugars content, and reducing sugars content) and microbial (mold and yeast content) characteristics and 15 element contents (As, Cd, K, Al, Pb, Hg, Ba, Ni, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Se) of the samples were evaluated. Among the essential elements, the maximum mean was related to K (630 ± 50.8 mg/kg), and the minimum mean was related to Se that was lower than the limit of detection. Also, among all toxic elements, the maximum mean was related to Ni (234 ± 54.7 µg/kg), and the minimum mean was related to Hg that was lower than the limit of detection. Furthermore, the mean of free acidity, pH, °Brix, moisture, diastase content, HMF, and proline content was 35.4 ± 1.27 meq/kg, 4.61 ± 0.21, 82.2 ± 3.08, 16.3 ± 0.33%, 9.10 ± 1.14 DN, 21.1 ± 2.65 mg/kg, and 482 ± 18.1 mg/kg, respectively. Also, the mean percentage of fructose, glucose, and sucrose was 32.4 ± 1.07% (27.5-40.0%), 27.2 ± 0.85% (23.5-31.7%), and 2.28 ± 0.70% (0.72-4.11%), respectively. Finally, the mean of mold and yeast in all samples was 14.2 ± 0.37 CFU/g. Also, the principal component analysis and heat map allowed us to determine a more accurate distinction between the physicochemical characteristics of bee honey. The results of our findings showed that in most cases, the results obtained were within the standard range, which indicates the good quality of Iranian honeys.

Determination of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) along with probabilistic health risk assessment in fruit juice samples in Tehran, Iran.

In the present study, magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) method and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technique were used to measure 6 PAE in fruit juice samples. The mean of total phthalic acid esters (Æ©PAEs) in all samples was 3.55 ± 0.66 µg/L. The mean concentration of DEHP (bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) in samples was 0.82 ± 0.31 µg/L, which was lower than the mentioned United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) standard level in drinking water (6 µg/L for DEHP). The pineapple juice samples (4.44 ± 0.57 µg/L) and mango juice samples (2.77 ± 0. 1 µg/L) had maximum and minimum mean levels of Æ©PAEs, respectively. Also, results showed that brand B (3.76 ± 0.87 µg/L) and samples in the time of expiration date (3.64 ± 0.72 µg/L) had the highest PAE levels. The rank order Chronic Daily Intake (95%) values for adults were DEHP ([Formula: see text]) > butylbenzyl phthalates (BBP) ([Formula: see text]) > diethyl phthalate (DEP) ([Formula: see text]) and for children were DEHP ([Formula: see text]) > BBP (9.07E-04) > DEP ([Formula: see text]), which were below the tolerable daily intake (TDI) value. The noncancer risk of PAEs based on the target hazard quotient (THQ) was acceptable (< 1). The results exhibited that the Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) was below the permissible limit (< [Formula: see text]). Therefore, the risk of carcinogenicity and noncarcinogenicity of PAEs in juices does not have adverse effects on human health.

Health risk assessment of PAHs in fruit juice samples marketed in city of Tehran, Iran.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the level of 16 PAHs in fruit juice samples (orange, apple, peach, pineapple, and mango) with three different packages (PET bottle, Tetra Pak, and canned packaging) by using MSPE/GC-MS (magnetic solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) method. In this method limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantitation (LOQ), and recovery were 0.030-0.280 µg/L, 0.090-0.840 µg/L, and 94.8-102%, respectively. Our results showed the median of total PAHs and PAH4 (in all samples) were 7.67 ± 3.19 and 0.370 ± 0.160 µg/L, respectively. The median of BaP in samples was )0.060 ± 0.030 µg/L( lower than the standard level (0.200 µg/L in drinking water) of US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Also, our results showed that pineapple juice had a maximum median of total PAHs of 12.4 ± 4.84 µg/L and mango juice had a minimum median of total PAHs of 5.17 ± 1.24 µg/L. Additionally, canned packaging had a maximum average total PAHs of 10.6 ± 5.22 µg/L and PET bottles had a minimum average total PAH of 5.25 ± 2.03 µg/L. A heat map approach was also used to cluster samples. The Monte Carlo results indicated that the estimated daily intake (EDI) rank order was Na > B(g)P > Ch > I(cd)P > B(b)F > Ph > B(k)F > F > Ace > Fl > B(a)P > B(a)A > P >A. The Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) results showed the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) at the 95th percentiles for adults and children was 4.91 × 10-7 and 9.12 × 10-7, respectively. It is concluded that the concentration of PAHs compounds in Iranian fruit juices is lower than the existing standards, and in terms of the risk of carcinogenesis, it does not threaten the human health (< 10-6).