Risk Assessment Of Multi-Element Concentrations In Selected Herbal Plants From Tropical Spice Garden And Local Markets In Penang, Malaysia
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Date
2015-08
Authors
A.AZIZ, NUR AQIDAH
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Abstract
Due to the concern of human health and to avoid these harmful effects, risk assessment of multi-element concentrations of herbal plants with reliable and accurate plant species identification is highly essential. Considering the above factors, present study is designed with the aim to investigate the concentration levels of multi-element in terms of heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb, Se, Sb) and mineral nutrients (Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Zn, Cu) in selected herbal plants of Malaysia based on human health risk assessment approach by combining molecular DNA as reliable and accurate identification tool of plant species. This study was carried out at two different case studies: Case Study 1 - Tropical Spice Garden (TSG) and; Case Study 2 - local markets (LM) in Pulau Pinang. A total of 115 leaf samples were gathered from both case studies. From the total samples, 12 leaf samples of herbal plants were collected from Tropical Spice Garden (TSG) and 103 leaf samples were collected from five selected local markets. During the sampling activities, physical air pollution variables in terms of temperature, relative humidity (RH), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), volatile organic compound (VOC), dust concentration (PM10) and air velocity were also measured in both case studies. Multi-element concentration levels were determined using ICP-OES. Next the data were analyzed based on daily intake metals (DIM) and health risk index (HRI). From this study, herbal plant samples at both case studies were successfully identified at species and genes levels. In both case studies, it was found tha
the multi-element concentration levels of heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb, Se, Sb) ranged from 0.01 mg/kg to 0.12 mg/kg and the concentration levels of mineral nutrients (Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Zn, Cu) ranged from 0.01 mg/kg to 8.75 mg/kg. The highest concentration of Ni was found in Mentha arvensis with the value of 0.08 mg/kg. For mineral nutrients, the concentration level of Ca (8.75 mg/kg) was found to be the highest value which was detected in Murraya koenigii. Based on the ANOVA results it shows that there are statistically significant different between herbal plant species and between elements (P<0.05). By comparing with existing standards, the concentration levels of multi-elements in all herbal plants were within the safe limits as suggested by several agencies including ATSDR, WHO/FDA, and ACGIH. Thus, intake of multi-elements in terms of heavy metals and mineral nutrients through the selected herbal plants poses no health risk to human. From the calculated HRI, all herbal plants in this study were safe (HRI<1) and free from multi-elements toxicity.
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Risk Assessment Of Multi-Element Concentrations In Selected Herbal Plants , From Tropical Spice Garden And Local Markets In Penang, Malaysia