Hadi et al. 2025 — Lead, cadmium, and chromium in dried fruits sold in Iraqi markets
This study measured Pb, Cd, and Cr concentrations in 15 dried-fruit samples sourced from Iranian manufacturers and purchased from Iraqi markets in February 2025, using a Shimadzu AA-7000 atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) after acid digestion (HNO3:HClO4, 3:1). Multiple samples exceeded FAO/WHO maximum allowable levels for Cd (0.05 mg/kg) and Cr (0.12 mg/kg), and the authors calculated estimated daily intakes (EDI), target hazard quotients (THQ), hazard indices (HI), and total cancer risk (TCR) against USEPA reference values. The overall HI was below 1.0 for all samples, indicating no acute noncarcinogenic health hazard from typical consumption patterns, but the authors flag long-term cumulative risk from samples that exceed regulatory limits.
Key numbers
Per-sample Pb, Cd, and Cr concentrations by AAS (mg/kg, wet weight basis inferred from acid digestion without explicit drying correction noted), n = 1 sample per commodity:
| Sample | Pb (mg/kg) | Cd (mg/kg) | Cr (mg/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peach | 1.093 | 0.315 | 1.289 |
| Fig | 0.900 | ND | ND |
| Coconut | ND | ND | 0.805 |
| Grape (raisins) | ND | 0.331 | 0.242 |
| Orange | 0.450 | ND | 0.161 |
| Sour Nomi | 0.900 | 0.032 | 0.322 |
| Pear | ND | 0.378 | ND |
| Watermelon | 1.029 | ND | 0.242 |
| Prune | ND | 0.079 | ND |
| Berry | 0.750 | 0.173 | 0.081 |
| Apple | ND | 0.897 | ND |
| Kiwi | 1.051 | 0.378 | 0.403 |
| Banana | 0.600 | 0.189 | 0.483 |
| Pomegranate | 0.900 | 0.094 | 0.725 |
| Quince | 1.951 | ND | 0.564 |
| Average ± SE | 0.6416 ± 0.80 | 0.1910 ± 0.43 | 0.3544 ± 0.59 |
| FAO/WHO limit | 10 | 0.05 | 0.12 |
ND = not detected. Highest Pb: quince 1.951 mg/kg (= 1,951 ppb). Highest Cd: apple 0.897 mg/kg (= 897 ppb). Highest Cr: peach 1.289 mg/kg (= 1,289 ppb). Average Cd 0.191 mg/kg = 191 ppb; 10 of 15 samples exceeded the 0.05 mg/kg FAO/WHO Cd limit. Average Pb 0.642 mg/kg = 642 ppb; all values below the 10 mg/kg FAO/WHO Pb limit.
EDI averages: Pb 0.4584 mg/kg/day, Cd 0.1502 mg/kg/day, Cr 0.2532 mg/kg/day (assumes 50 g/day dried fruit intake, 70 kg body weight). Average THQ: Pb 0.131, Cd 0.1364, Cr 0.084. Average HI (all three metals combined): 0.351 (below threshold of 1.0). TCR range: 0.002×10⁻⁶ to 16.90×10⁻⁶; average total TCR 5.106×10⁻⁶ (within USEPA acceptable range of 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁴).
Analytical LOD/LOQ: Pb LOD 0.03–0.1 ppm, LOQ 0.1–0.4 ppm; Cd LOD 0.002–0.008 ppm, LOQ 0.007–0.03 ppm; Cr LOD 0.005–0.02 ppm, LOQ 0.02–0.07 ppm. Recovery rates 92–98% against certified reference materials.
Methods
Shimadzu AA-7000 AAS. Acid digestion: HNO3:HClO4 3:1 ratio, 1 g sample, heated until clear, diluted to 25 mL. Recovery testing with internal standards (92–98%). Samples purchased February 2025 from Iraqi local markets; all 15 were Iranian-origin products. Each sample represents a single 500 g product unit; no replication across brands or production lots. Statistical analysis in SPSS v20. This is a convenience sample; commodity-level generalisation is limited by n = 1 per fruit type.
Cr is reported as total chromium; the paper does not speciate Cr-VI. The Cr values should not be read as Cr-VI concentration.
Implications
Certification: Cd exceedances are widespread and severe across multiple dried-fruit commodities (apple, raisin, pear, peach, kiwi all above 0.05 mg/kg FAO/WHO limit). HMT&C ingredient risk profiling for dried fruits should treat Cd as a primary concern, particularly for apple and raisin ingredients. Pb is uniformly below the FAO/WHO limit of 10 mg/kg, though values are non-trivial (mean 642 ppb).
Courses: Illustrates that regulatory limits do not guarantee low contamination; the Cd limit of 0.05 mg/kg FAO/WHO is exceeded by the majority of samples in this market survey. The single-sample-per-commodity design is a methodological limitation to flag in course discussions of study quality.
App: Dried fruits as an ingredient category carry non-negligible Cd risk. The apple-based dried-fruit result (897 ppb Cd) is the highest individual value in this dataset and should be held with caution given n = 1.