Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in Soybean Marketed in Hamedan City, Iran

Objectives: Based on the world researches, noncarcinogenic risk assessment of heavy metals in the soybean (Glycine max) is narrow; the current study aimed at investigating the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), cupper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in soybean marketed in Hamedan city, Iran, and estimating their potential risk to the health of inhabitants. Methods: The current analytical-observational study totally collected 27 samples from 9 brands of soybean (3 samples from each brand of soybean) from the market basket of Hamadan in 2015. After preparation and processing the samples in the laboratory, the concentration of metals were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Also, all statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 19, according to the Shapiro-Wilk test, one-way ANOVA (Duncan multiple range test), and the Pearson correlations. Results: The results showed that themaximummeanconcentrations (g/kg dW) of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in soybean samples were 42.0 19.06, 13440.1 1437.0, 34.44 14.82, and 32566.8 4965.1, respectively. Also, the mean concentrations of metals in all samples were lower than the maximum permissible limits (MPL) recommended by the world health organization (WHO). The computed health risk index (HRI) showed that no potential risk for adults and children via consumption of the studied soybean. Conclusions: According to HRI value, there was no possible health risk to adults and children due to intake of the studied soybean brands under the current consumption rate.