Heavy Metals in Foods and Detection Methods: Safety Analysis

Heavy Metals in Foods and Their Detection...

Heavy metal residues in foods have the potential to threaten human health by bioaccumulating in the food chain. Toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium can enter foods through environmental pollution, industrial activities and agricultural practices. This requires continuous analysis of heavy metals for food safety.

Importance of Heavy Metals in Foods and Their Effects on Human Health

Heavy metals are high-density elements and are toxic when they exceed certain levels. Long-term consumption of these metalsin foods can cause various health problems. Here are some common heavy metals in foods and their effects on health:

Lead (Pb): May be caused by industrial wastes, paint residues, air pollution. Health problems such as nervous system and kidney damage, developmental delay in children and learning difficulties may occur.
Mercury (Hg): Sources include fish and seafood, industrial wastes. Health problems such as brain and nervous system damage, kidney problems, fetal development disorders in pregnant women may occur.
Arsenic (As): Contaminated water sources, pesticide residues, metal coatings can be counted as sources. Health problems such as skin lesions, lung, bladder and skin cancer risk, cardiovascular diseases may occur.
Cadmium (Cd): Sources include chemical fertilizers, industrial waste, cigarette smoke. People may experience health problems such as bone resorption, kidney damage and lung diseases.

Heavy metals bioaccumulate and accumulate in the body over time and can cause toxic effects as a result of long-term consumption even at low doses. Health risks are particularly high in vulnerable groups (children, pregnant women and the elderly).

Importance of Heavy Metal Analysis and its Role in Ensuring Safety

Heavy metal analysis is very important in terms of ensuring food safety and consumer protection. Here are the main benefits of heavy metal analysis:

Consumer Health Protection: Considering the serious effects of heavy metals on health, analyzes ensure safe food supply.
Compliance with Legal Regulations: The Turkish Food Codex, European Union standards and other international authorities require that heavy metals in foods do not exceed certain limits. These analyzes ensure compliance with legal regulations.
Improving Product Quality: Foods free of heavy metals maintain high quality standards and increase brand trust.
Securing Food Exports: Heavy metal residues are not accepted in international markets. Analyzes ensure that the food is accepted in the export process.

Methods for the Detection of Heavy Metals in Food

Heavy metal analysis in foods is performed with advanced laboratory techniques that provide accurate and reliable results. Here are the main heavy metal detection methods commonly used:

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS): AAS is one of the most widely used methods for heavy metal analysis. It quantifies the amount of a metal by measuring the atomic absorption of a given metal by a light source. Low cost, wide range of uses, provides accurate results for many heavy metals.
Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): ICP-MS is an analysis method that offers high sensitivity and accurate results. Metal ions are ionized in plasma and measured by mass spectrometry. It can detect heavy metals at very low concentrations and analyze many metals at the same time.
Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES): ICP-OES is similar to ICP-MS but quantifies metals by measuring optical emission. It quickly analyzes many elements at the same time.
X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF): The XRF method enables the detection of elements in solid or liquid samples. Non-contact analysis, little preparation time.
Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV): ASV, an electroanalytical method, is used for the determination of low amounts of heavy metals. Metal ions in solution bind to the electrode and voltammetric analysis is performed. It can analyze at very low concentrations.

Nanolab Laboratories Group continues to provide services within the scope of Heavy Metal Analysis in Foods. We also provide services in Histamine Analysis in Fish.

You can follow us on LinkedIn for up-to-date news and posts about our services.

Follow our Instagram account to be informed about our latest blog posts.