Heavy Metals in Foods and Beverages: Global Situation, Health Risks and Reduction Methods
Heavy metals are chemical elements with a toxic effect on the human body. The expansion of industries has led to significant increasing levels of these constituents in the environment. Intensive agriculture can also lead to an increased concentration of heavy metals as a result of using different fe...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Foods |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/18/3340 |
| _version_ | 1797580059823833088 |
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| author | Elena Cristina Scutarașu Lucia Carmen Trincă |
| author_facet | Elena Cristina Scutarașu Lucia Carmen Trincă |
| author_sort | Elena Cristina Scutarașu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Heavy metals are chemical elements with a toxic effect on the human body. The expansion of industries has led to significant increasing levels of these constituents in the environment. Intensive agriculture can also lead to an increased concentration of heavy metals as a result of using different fertilizers and pesticides. Heavy metal accumulation in soil and plants represents a serious issue because of the potential risks to consumers. There are several methods available for the removal of these toxic components from different substrates (chemical precipitation, electrodialysis, coagulation and flocculation, photocatalytic removal, and adsorption-based processes), but most procedures are expensive and difficult to perform. Thus, more research is needed on the development of low-cost methods in foods. This work represents a review on the heavy metal presence in different food substrates (such as fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy products, meat and meat derivatives, oils, and alcoholic beverages) and provides an overview of the current situation worldwide, taking into account the fact that risks for human health are induced by the intensification of industry and the high degree of pollution. Considering that the toxicological quality of food affects its acceptability, this work provides valuable data regarding the actual situation on the proposed topic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:45:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-02a40c585cfa47e694bf96361b2b68ea |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:45:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-02a40c585cfa47e694bf96361b2b68ea2023-11-19T10:41:42ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582023-09-011218334010.3390/foods12183340Heavy Metals in Foods and Beverages: Global Situation, Health Risks and Reduction MethodsElena Cristina Scutarașu0Lucia Carmen Trincă1Faculty of Horticulture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iași University of Life Sciences, 3rd M. Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iași, RomaniaFaculty of Horticulture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iași University of Life Sciences, 3rd M. Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iași, RomaniaHeavy metals are chemical elements with a toxic effect on the human body. The expansion of industries has led to significant increasing levels of these constituents in the environment. Intensive agriculture can also lead to an increased concentration of heavy metals as a result of using different fertilizers and pesticides. Heavy metal accumulation in soil and plants represents a serious issue because of the potential risks to consumers. There are several methods available for the removal of these toxic components from different substrates (chemical precipitation, electrodialysis, coagulation and flocculation, photocatalytic removal, and adsorption-based processes), but most procedures are expensive and difficult to perform. Thus, more research is needed on the development of low-cost methods in foods. This work represents a review on the heavy metal presence in different food substrates (such as fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy products, meat and meat derivatives, oils, and alcoholic beverages) and provides an overview of the current situation worldwide, taking into account the fact that risks for human health are induced by the intensification of industry and the high degree of pollution. Considering that the toxicological quality of food affects its acceptability, this work provides valuable data regarding the actual situation on the proposed topic.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/18/3340heavy metalshealth concernscontaminationindustrializationfood safety |
| spellingShingle | Elena Cristina Scutarașu Lucia Carmen Trincă Heavy Metals in Foods and Beverages: Global Situation, Health Risks and Reduction Methods Foods heavy metals health concerns contamination industrialization food safety |
| title | Heavy Metals in Foods and Beverages: Global Situation, Health Risks and Reduction Methods |
| title_full | Heavy Metals in Foods and Beverages: Global Situation, Health Risks and Reduction Methods |
| title_fullStr | Heavy Metals in Foods and Beverages: Global Situation, Health Risks and Reduction Methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heavy Metals in Foods and Beverages: Global Situation, Health Risks and Reduction Methods |
| title_short | Heavy Metals in Foods and Beverages: Global Situation, Health Risks and Reduction Methods |
| title_sort | heavy metals in foods and beverages global situation health risks and reduction methods |
| topic | heavy metals health concerns contamination industrialization food safety |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/18/3340 |
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