Evaluation of Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu concentrations in wheat and bread consumed in Hamedan city

Due to an increase of environmental pollutants and their consequences entry in foods, studies on the types of pollution in different food types become of high importance. The present study was carried out to assess Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu contents in wheat and bread of Hamedan City during 2015. For this purpose, 4 wheat farms and 4 bakeries (Lavash, Barbari, Sangak and French bread types) were selected for sampling. After acid-digestion method, the concentrations of the metals were determined using ICP-OES in 3 replications. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package. Results showed that the mean concentrations (mg/kg) of Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cu in the bread samples were 5.47 ± 2.48, 0.06 ± 0.04, 0.92 ± 0.36 and 1.57 ± 0.14, respectively. The mean concentration of these metals (mg/kg) in the wheat samples were 4.93 ± 1.34, 0.17 ± 0.16, 0.92 ± 0.55 and 1.02 ± 0.31, respectively. Also comparing of the mean concentrations of metals with WHO permissible limits it was revealed that the mean concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cu were lower than permissible limits, meanwhile concentrations of Cd was higher than permissible limits. It seems that excessive using of agricultural inputs and application of sewage sludge and wastewater for irrigation could be the main reason for the high concentrations of heavy metals in agricultural products and could have public health consequences.