Exploratory analysis of potential toxic elements in Moroccan couscous and health risk evaluation utilizing ICP-OES
Background: The Moroccan diet is reliant on a number of plant-based proteins and calories, which are integral components of couscous and various baked goods. These include durum wheat, barley, whole corn, and rice, which provide essential nutrients in the form of protein and calories. However, these...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Trace Elements and Minerals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773050624000922 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832583021023199232 |
|---|---|
| author | Othmane Hammani Najlae El-Otmani Omar Ben Lenda Hamza El Azhari Abderrazak Rfaki Naima Lahlouhi Youssef Mourad Abdelaziz Abdallaoui |
| author_facet | Othmane Hammani Najlae El-Otmani Omar Ben Lenda Hamza El Azhari Abderrazak Rfaki Naima Lahlouhi Youssef Mourad Abdelaziz Abdallaoui |
| author_sort | Othmane Hammani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The Moroccan diet is reliant on a number of plant-based proteins and calories, which are integral components of couscous and various baked goods. These include durum wheat, barley, whole corn, and rice, which provide essential nutrients in the form of protein and calories. However, these grains are susceptible to the accumulation of trace elements that can have adverse effects on human health. In order to address this concern, our exploratory study assessed the contamination levels in couscous samples available in Morocco in 2023, focusing on lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) due to their severe health impacts even at low concentrations, as noted by the WHO. Study Area: Twenty-four couscous samples procured from diverse markets in Rabat, Sale, and Temara, which are located in the northern part of Morocco. Methods: The samples were subjected to analysis using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) following the complete mineralisation of the samples. Results: The results for Cd indicated concentrations ranging from 0.0036 to 0.0144 μg g−1 in 13 samples, with the remaining samples exhibiting levels below the detection limit. With regard to Pb, nine samples exhibited contamination levels that ranged from 0.00461 to 0.00868 μg g−1. It is noteworthy that the levels of Cd were below the detection limit in all of the samples that were analysed. The results of our study demonstrated that all 24 samples exhibited Pb and Cd contents that were below the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) as recommended by the European Commission Regulation No 1881/2006. Conclusion: The findings provide essential data for the evaluation of the safety and suitability of couscous for human consumption. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-59927f89e204401191bef7ad612849ba |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2773-0506 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Trace Elements and Minerals |
| spelling | doaj-art-59927f89e204401191bef7ad612849ba2025-01-29T05:02:48ZengElsevierJournal of Trace Elements and Minerals2773-05062025-03-0111100207Exploratory analysis of potential toxic elements in Moroccan couscous and health risk evaluation utilizing ICP-OESOthmane Hammani0Najlae El-Otmani1Omar Ben Lenda2Hamza El Azhari3Abderrazak Rfaki4Naima Lahlouhi5Youssef Mourad6Abdelaziz Abdallaoui7Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Sciences, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Processes and Environment Team, Meknes, Morocco; National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Rabat, MoroccoTherapeutic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco; Corresponding author.The National Higher School of Mining of Rabat (ENSMR), Rabat, Morocco; Laboratory of Physical-Chemistry of Processes and Materials, Faculty of Sciences and Technology Settat, Hassan 1st University, Settat, MoroccoLaboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials, Natural Substances and Environment, Chemistry Department, Sciences and Technology Faculty, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tangier 90090, MoroccoNational Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Rabat, Morocco; Institut Royal de Formation des Cadres, Rabat, MoroccoNational Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Rabat, Morocco; Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, ENSAM, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, MoroccoSuperior School of Technology, University Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, Fez, 30000, MoroccoMoulay Ismail University, Faculty of Sciences, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Processes and Environment Team, Meknes, MoroccoBackground: The Moroccan diet is reliant on a number of plant-based proteins and calories, which are integral components of couscous and various baked goods. These include durum wheat, barley, whole corn, and rice, which provide essential nutrients in the form of protein and calories. However, these grains are susceptible to the accumulation of trace elements that can have adverse effects on human health. In order to address this concern, our exploratory study assessed the contamination levels in couscous samples available in Morocco in 2023, focusing on lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) due to their severe health impacts even at low concentrations, as noted by the WHO. Study Area: Twenty-four couscous samples procured from diverse markets in Rabat, Sale, and Temara, which are located in the northern part of Morocco. Methods: The samples were subjected to analysis using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) following the complete mineralisation of the samples. Results: The results for Cd indicated concentrations ranging from 0.0036 to 0.0144 μg g−1 in 13 samples, with the remaining samples exhibiting levels below the detection limit. With regard to Pb, nine samples exhibited contamination levels that ranged from 0.00461 to 0.00868 μg g−1. It is noteworthy that the levels of Cd were below the detection limit in all of the samples that were analysed. The results of our study demonstrated that all 24 samples exhibited Pb and Cd contents that were below the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) as recommended by the European Commission Regulation No 1881/2006. Conclusion: The findings provide essential data for the evaluation of the safety and suitability of couscous for human consumption.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773050624000922CouscousTrace metal elementLeadCadmiumRisk assessment |
| spellingShingle | Othmane Hammani Najlae El-Otmani Omar Ben Lenda Hamza El Azhari Abderrazak Rfaki Naima Lahlouhi Youssef Mourad Abdelaziz Abdallaoui Exploratory analysis of potential toxic elements in Moroccan couscous and health risk evaluation utilizing ICP-OES Journal of Trace Elements and Minerals Couscous Trace metal element Lead Cadmium Risk assessment |
| title | Exploratory analysis of potential toxic elements in Moroccan couscous and health risk evaluation utilizing ICP-OES |
| title_full | Exploratory analysis of potential toxic elements in Moroccan couscous and health risk evaluation utilizing ICP-OES |
| title_fullStr | Exploratory analysis of potential toxic elements in Moroccan couscous and health risk evaluation utilizing ICP-OES |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploratory analysis of potential toxic elements in Moroccan couscous and health risk evaluation utilizing ICP-OES |
| title_short | Exploratory analysis of potential toxic elements in Moroccan couscous and health risk evaluation utilizing ICP-OES |
| title_sort | exploratory analysis of potential toxic elements in moroccan couscous and health risk evaluation utilizing icp oes |
| topic | Couscous Trace metal element Lead Cadmium Risk assessment |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773050624000922 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT othmanehammani exploratoryanalysisofpotentialtoxicelementsinmoroccancouscousandhealthriskevaluationutilizingicpoes AT najlaeelotmani exploratoryanalysisofpotentialtoxicelementsinmoroccancouscousandhealthriskevaluationutilizingicpoes AT omarbenlenda exploratoryanalysisofpotentialtoxicelementsinmoroccancouscousandhealthriskevaluationutilizingicpoes AT hamzaelazhari exploratoryanalysisofpotentialtoxicelementsinmoroccancouscousandhealthriskevaluationutilizingicpoes AT abderrazakrfaki exploratoryanalysisofpotentialtoxicelementsinmoroccancouscousandhealthriskevaluationutilizingicpoes AT naimalahlouhi exploratoryanalysisofpotentialtoxicelementsinmoroccancouscousandhealthriskevaluationutilizingicpoes AT youssefmourad exploratoryanalysisofpotentialtoxicelementsinmoroccancouscousandhealthriskevaluationutilizingicpoes AT abdelazizabdallaoui exploratoryanalysisofpotentialtoxicelementsinmoroccancouscousandhealthriskevaluationutilizingicpoes |