Analysis of Contamination Levels of Cu, Pb, and Zn and Population Health Risk via Consumption of Processed Meat Products

Background: Due to the world research for non-carcinogenic risk assessment of heavy metals in the processed meat products, the aim of the present study was to determine the contents of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, and Zn) and associated health risks through consumption of sausage and ham marketed in Hamadan city in 2016. Methods: In this descriptive study, 30 samples from 10 brands of sausage and 30 samples from 10 brands of ham (totally 60 samples) were collected from the market basket of Hamadan city. After preparation and processing of the samples in the laboratory, the concentration of metals was determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The health risk index (HRI) was assessed based on the ratio of average daily intake of metal (DIM) to the reference dose of the metal. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (version 20). Results: The results showed that the mean concentrations (mg/kg) of Cu, Pb, and Zn were 1.88 ± 0.69, 0.35 ± 0.18, and 4.61 ± 1.71 in sausage samples and 1.48 ± 0.25, 0.32 ± 0.11, and 3.18 ± 1.28 in ham samples. Pb was higher than the maximum permissible level (0.20 mg/kg) in 80% of the samples. In addition, the computed health risk index showed no potential risk for adults and children via consumption of studied foodstuffs. Conclusions: According to the results, the HRI values of analyzed processed meat products were within the safe limits and there was no potential health risk for human through the consumption of them under the current consumption rate. However, considering that the mean content of Pb in 80% of the samples exceeded the MPL, serious attention should be paid to the discharge of pollutants to the environment, chemicals residue monitoring especially for toxic heavy metals in foodstuff, and control of heavy metals content during the whole production process of sausage and ham.