Overview
Savić et al. measured 22 elements in ten spice samples sold on the Serbian market using ICP-OES after wet digestion. The paper provides direct spice occurrence data for lead, cadmium, aluminium, nickel, and chromium, although cadmium was detected only in cinnamon and chromium was reported as 0.00 mg/kg for all ten spices. The data are useful as a Serbian-market snapshot, not as a distribution for any single commodity because each spice type appears to be represented by one sample.
Key numbers
Table 4 reports concentrations in mg/kg spice.
| Spice | Al | Cd | Cr | Ni | Pb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curcuma/turmeric | 1.83 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.16 |
| Star anise | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.39 | 0.37 |
| Cinnamon | 0.06 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0.11 | 0.31 |
| Ginger | 6.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.14 |
| Coriander | 10.78 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.12 |
| Cardamom | 2.19 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.08 |
| Sesame | 1.13 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.17 |
| Black pepper | 0.04 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.13 |
| Chilli | 2.59 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.16 |
| Curry | 1.66 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.08 |
The authors also report broader mineral ranges across the ten samples: calcium 182.25-3968.79 mg/kg, potassium 19.69-447.65 mg/kg, magnesium 4.08-34.12 mg/kg, manganese 0.07-6.25 mg/kg, copper 0.51-11.76 mg/kg, and zinc 1.49-4.64 mg/kg.
Methods (brief)
The authors purchased ten spice samples on Serbian territory. Each 0.1 g sample was digested with 65% nitric acid for 24 hours, diluted to 10 cm3 with HPLC-grade water, filtered through 0.45 micrometer cellulose filters, and analyzed by ICP-OES using an ARCOS FHE12 instrument. The paper reports calibration parameters, detection wavelengths, LODs, and linearity ranges for the measured elements.
Implications
Certification: This source contributes low-n spice occurrence evidence for total lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr) in Serbian-market spices. It should not be treated as a pooled benchmark distribution by itself because the commodity-specific sample count is one.
Courses: The source is useful for illustrating that spices can be nutritionally mineral-rich while still requiring monitoring for toxic metals.
App: Ingredient-specific routing is strongest for turmeric, cinnamon, cumin-derived spice scope, and black pepper where matching ingredient pages exist; other commodities should remain under broad herbs-and-spices/spices routing unless finer slugs are scaffolded.
Microbiome (if applicable): The paper does not study microbiome outcomes.
Related evidence
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