Assessment of the Chemical Hazards in Herbs Consumed in Europe: Toxins, Heavy Metals, and Pesticide Residues
The increasing global interest in herbs and spices necessitates a thorough examination of the chemical hazards associated with their consumption. The objective of this work was to provide an understanding of the current state and prevalence of chemical contaminants (toxins, heavy metals, and pestici...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | Proceedings |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/102/1/2054 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849704841970974720 |
|---|---|
| author | Maria Carpena Paula Barciela Ana Perez-Vazquez Kinga Noras Joanna Trafiałek Miguel A. Prieto Monika Trząskowska |
| author_facet | Maria Carpena Paula Barciela Ana Perez-Vazquez Kinga Noras Joanna Trafiałek Miguel A. Prieto Monika Trząskowska |
| author_sort | Maria Carpena |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The increasing global interest in herbs and spices necessitates a thorough examination of the chemical hazards associated with their consumption. The objective of this work was to provide an understanding of the current state and prevalence of chemical contaminants (toxins, heavy metals, and pesticide residues) in herbs and spices consumed in Europe, facilitating informed decision-making in public health and regulatory frameworks Through an extensive literature search, contamination levels of chemical hazards among different herbs and spices were evaluated. The European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) has shown 1133 notifications for spices and herbs in the last 10 years (2013–2023). Focusing on the chemical hazards associated with the consumption of these products, mycotoxins (especially aflatoxins and ochratoxin A) and plant-derived compounds with potential health implications (e.g., pyrrolizidine alkaloids) were the most often notified. Nevertheless, besides these naturally occurring compounds, other deliberated added substances such as artificial unauthorized dyes (e.g., Sudan I, II, III, and IV) that can pose a human health risk have been identified. Finally, environmental contaminants could also be present in herbs and spices. Pesticide residues (e.g., chlorpyrifos, carbendazim, and bifenthrin) have been notified, and studies in terms of their persistence and adherence to regulatory limits and heavy metals were also investigated, focusing on cadmium, lead, and mercury due to the bioaccumulation abilities of plants. Other environmental contaminants, such as dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were considered for this study. In conclusion, this work contributed to identifying gaps and challenges in regulatory practices and to the dialog on the safety and quality of herbs and spices, offering a holistic perspective on toxins, heavy metals, and pesticide residues and fostering collaboration between all stakeholders to advance in public health protection in Europe. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9c0dec2d4ae7452db217549f6e4ac9ba |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2504-3900 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Proceedings |
| spelling | doaj-art-9c0dec2d4ae7452db217549f6e4ac9ba2025-08-20T03:16:38ZengMDPI AGProceedings2504-39002024-11-011021205410.3390/proceedings2024102054Assessment of the Chemical Hazards in Herbs Consumed in Europe: Toxins, Heavy Metals, and Pesticide ResiduesMaria Carpena0Paula Barciela1Ana Perez-Vazquez2Kinga Noras3Joanna Trafiałek4Miguel A. Prieto5Monika Trząskowska6Universidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA)–CITEXVI, 36310 Vigo, SpainUniversidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA)–CITEXVI, 36310 Vigo, SpainUniversidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA)–CITEXVI, 36310 Vigo, SpainDepartment of Biometry, Institute of Agriculture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences–SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159 St., 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Food Gastronomy and Food Hygiene, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences–SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159 St., 02-776 Warsaw, PolandUniversidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA)–CITEXVI, 36310 Vigo, SpainDepartment of Food Gastronomy and Food Hygiene, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences–SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159 St., 02-776 Warsaw, PolandThe increasing global interest in herbs and spices necessitates a thorough examination of the chemical hazards associated with their consumption. The objective of this work was to provide an understanding of the current state and prevalence of chemical contaminants (toxins, heavy metals, and pesticide residues) in herbs and spices consumed in Europe, facilitating informed decision-making in public health and regulatory frameworks Through an extensive literature search, contamination levels of chemical hazards among different herbs and spices were evaluated. The European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) has shown 1133 notifications for spices and herbs in the last 10 years (2013–2023). Focusing on the chemical hazards associated with the consumption of these products, mycotoxins (especially aflatoxins and ochratoxin A) and plant-derived compounds with potential health implications (e.g., pyrrolizidine alkaloids) were the most often notified. Nevertheless, besides these naturally occurring compounds, other deliberated added substances such as artificial unauthorized dyes (e.g., Sudan I, II, III, and IV) that can pose a human health risk have been identified. Finally, environmental contaminants could also be present in herbs and spices. Pesticide residues (e.g., chlorpyrifos, carbendazim, and bifenthrin) have been notified, and studies in terms of their persistence and adherence to regulatory limits and heavy metals were also investigated, focusing on cadmium, lead, and mercury due to the bioaccumulation abilities of plants. Other environmental contaminants, such as dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were considered for this study. In conclusion, this work contributed to identifying gaps and challenges in regulatory practices and to the dialog on the safety and quality of herbs and spices, offering a holistic perspective on toxins, heavy metals, and pesticide residues and fostering collaboration between all stakeholders to advance in public health protection in Europe.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/102/1/2054herbstoxinsheavy metalspesticide residuesrisk assessment |
| spellingShingle | Maria Carpena Paula Barciela Ana Perez-Vazquez Kinga Noras Joanna Trafiałek Miguel A. Prieto Monika Trząskowska Assessment of the Chemical Hazards in Herbs Consumed in Europe: Toxins, Heavy Metals, and Pesticide Residues Proceedings herbs toxins heavy metals pesticide residues risk assessment |
| title | Assessment of the Chemical Hazards in Herbs Consumed in Europe: Toxins, Heavy Metals, and Pesticide Residues |
| title_full | Assessment of the Chemical Hazards in Herbs Consumed in Europe: Toxins, Heavy Metals, and Pesticide Residues |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of the Chemical Hazards in Herbs Consumed in Europe: Toxins, Heavy Metals, and Pesticide Residues |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of the Chemical Hazards in Herbs Consumed in Europe: Toxins, Heavy Metals, and Pesticide Residues |
| title_short | Assessment of the Chemical Hazards in Herbs Consumed in Europe: Toxins, Heavy Metals, and Pesticide Residues |
| title_sort | assessment of the chemical hazards in herbs consumed in europe toxins heavy metals and pesticide residues |
| topic | herbs toxins heavy metals pesticide residues risk assessment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/102/1/2054 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariacarpena assessmentofthechemicalhazardsinherbsconsumedineuropetoxinsheavymetalsandpesticideresidues AT paulabarciela assessmentofthechemicalhazardsinherbsconsumedineuropetoxinsheavymetalsandpesticideresidues AT anaperezvazquez assessmentofthechemicalhazardsinherbsconsumedineuropetoxinsheavymetalsandpesticideresidues AT kinganoras assessmentofthechemicalhazardsinherbsconsumedineuropetoxinsheavymetalsandpesticideresidues AT joannatrafiałek assessmentofthechemicalhazardsinherbsconsumedineuropetoxinsheavymetalsandpesticideresidues AT miguelaprieto assessmentofthechemicalhazardsinherbsconsumedineuropetoxinsheavymetalsandpesticideresidues AT monikatrzaskowska assessmentofthechemicalhazardsinherbsconsumedineuropetoxinsheavymetalsandpesticideresidues |