Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Traditional Herbs Commonly Consumed in the United Arab Emirates
Table 2
Concentration range of cadmium, lead, copper, iron, and zinc (mg·kg−1) in herb samples, and percentage of samples above permissible limits (PL).
Herbs
Cadmium (Cd)
Lead (Pb)
Copper (Cu)
Iron (Fe)
Zinc (Zn)
Mint
Range (mg·kg−1)
1.44 ± 0.67–9.24 ± 1.02
3.82 ± 0.02–12.32 ± 0.31
150.57 ± 10.34–821.02 ± 17.83
12.65 ± 1.05–52.97 ± 2.81
% of sample above PL (/)
0% (0/13)
0% (0/13)
0% (0/13)
ND
7% (1/13)
Parsley
Range
−0.21 ± 0.07
−12.83 ± 0.97
4.21 ± 0.13–13.29 ± (0.29)
81.26 ± 7.00–605.50 ± 14.87
19.32 ± 0.35–50.10 ± 1.22
% of sample above PL (/)
0% (0/13)
46% (6/13)
0% (0/13)
ND
7% (1/13)
Chamomile
Range
−0.82 ± 0.02
5.37 ± 1.25–11.40 ± 1.32
6.12 ± 1.03–12.99 ± 0.48
188.27 ± 3.72–581.30 ± 41.889
25.23 ± 3.56–38.93 ± 3.14
% of sample above PL (/)
55% (5/9)
44% (4/9)
66% (6/9)
ND
0% (0/9)
Basil
Range
0.13 ± 0.01–1.11 ± 0.07
9.01 ± 0.28–16.15 ± 2.53
1.44 ± 0.53–18.87 ± 1.46
185.73 ± 13.02–1101.23 ± 49.46
15.22 ± 1.31–112.19 ± 3.44
% of sample above PL (/)
80% (8/10)
90% (9/10)
0% (0/10)
ND
50% (5/10)
Sage
Range
−0.88 ± 0.08
12.66 ± 1.54–21.76 ± 1.33
5.17 ± 0.03–156.24 ± 1.22
204.15 ± 19.62–799.31 ± 36.85
24.64 ± 0.53–58.78 ± 2.72
% of sample above PL (/)
66% (6/9)
100% (10/10)
18% (2/11)
ND
36% (4/11)
Oregano
Range
−0.35 ± 0.02
9.39 ± 1.77–18.06 ± 2.32
3.99 ± 0.35–41.64 ± 2.20
155.74 ± 4.67–420.52 ± 15.19
13.33 ± 2.15–37.28 ± 0.71
% of sample above PL (/)
9% (1/11)
90% (10/11)
18% (2/11)
ND
0% (0/11)
Thyme
Range
−0.63 ± 0.07
9.07 ± 0.34–23.52 ± 1.68
3.52 ± 0.22–13.16 ± 0.33
120.75 ± 1.82–764.51 ± 39.15
16.50 ± 1.29–146.67 ± 7.57
% of sample above PL (/)
27% (3/11)
91% (11/12)
0% (0/12)
ND
38% (5/13)
% of all samples above PL
29%
64%
12%
ND
19%
China set PL 20 mg·kg−1. Concentration below Method Quantification Limit (MQL): 0.1, 1 mg·kg−1 for cadmium and lead, respectively. : total number of samples analyzed for the metal; : number of samples above permissible limits (PL). ND: set limits not determined for iron.
