Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. 
Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. What was studied
This research article evaluated toxic and trace metal contamination in commercially available legumes sold in Erbil, Iraq, and translated measured concentrations into consumer health risk metrics relevant to food safety programs. The authors randomly selected 17 market brands across three staple legumes lentils, beans, and chickpeas and quantified 14 elements (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, As, Fe, Al, Mo, Mn, Hg, Cr, Ni, B, Co) using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Concentration data were then used to estimate exposure and non-carcinogenic risk for two consumer groups by calculating average daily intake (ADI), hazard quotient (HQ) for each element, and aggregate hazard index (HI). The study design is directly applicable to certification workflows because it pairs validated analytical instrumentation with risk-based interpretation, enabling brands and regulators to move beyond “detected/not detected” reporting into threshold-oriented decision-making for routine market surveillance.
Who was studied
No human participants were enrolled; the “subjects” were retail legume products intended for human consumption in Erbil, Iraq. The authors framed risk calculations for children (6–12 years) and adults (20–60 years) to reflect common regulatory practice in dietary exposure assessment, recognizing that children typically have higher exposure per body weight and therefore lower safety margins. The sampling unit was brand-level packaged legumes, with 17 different brands randomly selected across lentils, beans, and chickpeas. Measurements were performed in triplicate by ICP-MS after digestion. For HMTC-aligned interpretation, this population framing matters because it supports tiered certification claims (e.g., “child-sensitive” limits) and highlights that the same measured concentration can translate to different risk classifications depending on consumer age group and assumed intake rates.
Most important findings
Across the 17 products, Hg and Cd were not detected, but Pb and Al were reported at elevated concentrations in some brands, and risk metrics identified specific brand–metal combinations that drove concern; this pattern emphasizes why certification should integrate both concentration limits and exposure-based indices.
| Critical point | Details |
|---|---|
| Broad multi-element contamination profile | Fourteen elements were analyzed in lentils, beans, and chickpeas via ICP-MS, supporting a certification model that screens beyond the usual “big four” (Pb, Cd, As, Hg) to include metals that can become unsafe at high intake (e.g., Cu, Fe) and co-occurring trace elements (e.g., Ni, Cr, Co). |
| Non-detects can still coexist with meaningful risk | Although Hg and Cd were not detected, other metals drove risk, illustrating that a “passes for Hg/Cd” statement is insufficient for a comprehensive seal; certification panels should still evaluate Pb, Al, As, and high-intake essential metals. |
| Concentration ranges by legume type show variability | Reported toxic metal concentrations ranged from <0.001–5.880 mg/kg (lentils), <0.001–15.300 mg/kg (beans), and <0.001–27.350 mg/kg (chickpeas), indicating that risk management may need commodity-specific benchmarks and targeted sourcing controls. |
| Risk indices identified brands of concern | HQ values ranged 0.001–2.653 (children) and 0.001–2.279 (adults); the authors highlighted notable risk contributions from As in a bean sample (B2) and Cu in a chickpea sample (C5), implying that certification must include brand-level corrective actions and not rely solely on category averages. |
| ADI exceedances occurred for “essential” metals | The ADI for Cu and Fe in certain brands (e.g., L1, B3, C5) exceeded FAO/WHO tolerable intake guidance as applied by the authors, reinforcing that certification criteria should address upper-bound exposure for essential elements when products are eaten frequently or by high-intake subgroups. |
Key implications
For HMTC implementation, this study supports risk-based limits that prioritize Pb, Al, As, and high-exposure Cu/Fe alongside Hg/Cd non-detect reporting, strengthening regulatory alignment through ADI/HQ/HI interpretation rather than concentration-only pass/fail. Certification requirements should include ICP-MS (or equivalent sensitivity), defined digestion/QA procedures, and commodity- and age-sensitive acceptance thresholds. Industry applications include brand-level surveillance, supplier qualification, and rapid corrective action when a single element drives HI above 1. Research gaps include clearer intake assumptions, seasonal/lot variability, and expansion to speciation (notably arsenic). Practical recommendations are to require multi-lot testing, publish action levels per legume type, and trigger re-certification when sourcing or processing changes.
Citation
Hassan RO, Othman HO, Ali DS, Abdullah FO, Darwesh DA. (2023). Assessment of the health risk posed by toxic metals in commonly consumed legume brands in Erbil, Iraq. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 120, 105282.
