Kazimov and Alieva (2014) conducted a dietary survey of 57 adults in Baku, Azerbaijan, measuring Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn in 18 food types consumed in the daily diet, then calculated daily intake doses and health risk quotients. The paper’s key finding is that Cr and Ni exceeded regulatory limits (by 4.8–42× for Cr and 1.4–11× for Ni) in nearly all food categories tested, while Pb and Cd remained within limits except in sunflower oil. Health risk ratios for Cr and Ni were 1.31 and 3.77 respectively (>1 indicates health concern), while other metals were 0.15–0.58. Blood and hair analysis of 17 subjects confirmed elevated Cr and Ni concentrations correlated with dietary intake.
Key numbers
Metal content ranking across food items (mg/kg range): Zn 1.80–59.95 > Cr 0.48–10.53 > Ni 0.49–3.65 > Cu 0.30–8.20 > Pb 0.04–0.98 > Cd 0.01–0.18.
Hazard quotients by food category (Table 1; hazard coefficient = measured concentration / permitted limit):
- Bread and bakery products: Pb 0.9, Cd 0.5, Cr 8.4, Ni 1.4, Cu 0.06, Zn 0.37
- Cereals (various): Pb 0.16, Cd 0.4, Cr 16.8, Ni 5.6, Cu 1.64, Zn 0.86
- Beef: Pb 0.26, Cd 0.78, Cr 42.12, Ni 5.9, Cu 0.75, Zn 0.85
- Lamb (baranina): Pb 0.62, Cd 0.4, Cr 35.6, Ni 7.3, Cu 0.86, Zn 0.51
- Chicken: Pb 0.42, Cd 0.72, Cr 31.8, Ni 5.5, Cu 0.7, Zn 0.63
- Fish: Pb 0.98, Cd 0.92, Cr 0.96, Ni 0.98, Cu 0.37, Zn 0.95
- Potato: Pb 0.07, Cd 0.5, Cr 15, Ni 6.2, Cu 0.22, Zn 0.58
- Carrot: Pb 0.12, Cd 1.0, Cr 23.2, Ni 3.4, Cu 0.34, Zn 0.89
- Sunflower oil: Pb 1.4, Cd 1.5 (both >1 limit)
Daily dose risk ratios: Cr 1.31 (low risk per Russian/CIS framework), Ni 3.77 (elevated risk), others 0.15–0.58.
Analytical method: atomic absorption spectrometry on Shimadzu XRF-18000 (described also as AAS Shimadzu), geochemical laboratory of the Institute of Geology, National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan.
Methods (brief)
Questionnaire dietary survey (n=57) to quantify daily food intake by item. Chemical analysis of 18 food item samples by AAS (Shimadzu). Biological sample analysis (blood and hair from 17 subjects). Daily intake doses calculated per established Russian/CIS methodological guidance documents. Health risk quotients calculated per intake dose methodology. Limitation: Russian/CIS health risk methodology differs from EFSA/EPA frameworks; very high Cr hazard quotients (42× in beef) likely reflect CIS regulatory limits for Cr being stricter than EU limits and may include total Cr rather than speciated Cr-VI. Published in Russian-language medical journal; English abstract available.
Implications
Certification: The extreme Cr hazard coefficients in meat products (up to 42× over Russian/CIS limits) likely reflect total chromium and CIS regulatory stringency rather than a true European or global food safety emergency. Calibration to EU/Codex limits is needed before applying these values to certification context. The Ni hazard ratio of 3.77 is more directly concerning and aligns with other literature showing Ni as a significant dietary exposure metal in cereals, meat, and root vegetables.
Courses: Useful case study for dietary exposure assessment methodology and for illustrating how choice of regulatory framework affects perceived risk level. The Baku context (post-Soviet Azerbaijan) provides geographic diversity.
App: Limited direct applicability for app concentration profiles; the paper reports hazard coefficients rather than raw concentrations. The relative rankings (cereals and meat as major Cr/Ni contributors) are relevant to intake modeling.