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In this study, the aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) concentration in traditional and industrial milk and risk assessment due to AFM1 exposure using the Monte Carlo simulations technique was investigated. The mean concentration of AFM1 in traditional and industrial milk samples was 53.00 ± 11.49 and 54.33 ± 12.22 ng/L, respectively, which was higher than European Union and Codex standards. Percentile 95% of hazard quotient (HQ) adults and children due to industrial ingestion milk was 1.056 and 4.956, and traditional milk was 1.031 and 5.116, respectively. Hazard quotient in all age consumers was higher than 1. Therefore, consumers are at a considerable health risk.

Background:: Unripe grape (Qoura) in the forms of either intact or juice can be used as a flavoring agent in several foods of Iranian cuisines such as soup and salad due to its sour taste. Methods:: In the current study, the effects of microwave (270, 540, and 720 W) and hot air drying (40, 50 and 60°C) on the polyphenol components content and chemical properties (including chroma, hue angle, L* value, total color difference, soluble sugars, acidity, total phenols and phenolic components including rutin, gallic acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, and resveratrol) of Qoura obtained from unripe white seedless grape were investigated. Results:: The obtained results showed that in both methods, by increasing the oven temperature and microwave power, the L value (The L* value was used to express the whiteness and darkness) was decreased. There was a notable reduction in the initial phenolic content of the sample (381.671 mg gallic acid/ 100 g) as a result of both of the used techniques. The initial content of resveratrol was decreased from 30.27 mg/100 g; to 23.07, 16.64, 10.73 mg/100 g sample in the samples treated with the air-drying method at 40, 50, 60°C, respectively. Also, by using the microwave in 270, 540, 720 W, it decreased to 5.77, 5.38. 5.26 mg/100 g sample at 270, 540, 720 Watt, respectively. Conclusion:: The results of the present study revealed that the drying method affects the amount of polyphenolic compounds and physicochemical properties.

In the present study, the concentration of (potentially toxic element) PTEs in the five fish species from the Caspian Sea (from five coastal areas) was measured and compared. The target hazard quotient (THQ) and total THQ (TTHQ) were calculated using Monte Carlo simulations to determine the non-carcinogenic risk in both children and adults consumers. The highest concentration of PTEs was associated with chromium (Cr) measured in Cyprinus carpio, sampled from Bandar Anzali (1.56 ± 0.14 μg/g dw), and the minimum PTEs level was nickel (Ni) in Vimba from Astara (0.02 ± 0.01 μg/g d w). The rank order for PTEs based on THQ was mercury (Hg) > cadmium (Cd) > lead (Pb)> Ni > tin (Sn) > Total Cr. For adults, the fishes rank order based on TTHQ was: Cyprinus carpio (3.268) > Chelon saliens (2.89) > Rutilus frisii kutum kanesky (2.28) > Oncorhynchus mykis (1.39) > Vimba (0.25); and for children was Cyprinus carpio (15.25) > Chelon saliens (13.47) > Rutilus frisii kutum kanesky (10.63) > Oncorhynchus mykis (6.48) > Vimba (1.16). Overall this study showed that the levels of PTEs in investigated fish species had a potential non-carcinogenic risk for both children and adults (TTHQ>1).

A heavy metal is any relatively dense metal that may be potentially toxic in a variety of foods. Heavy metals pollute and contaminate foods. These metals are usually toxic to human body. Heavy metals are the most important toxic metals which may cause health risks following the consumption of contaminated foods. The edible salt (NaCl) is a substance that has been used as a food additive since ancient times. Twenty samples of refined and unrefined edible salts produced in Iran were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) method for the presence of toxic heavy metals. The precision of the analysis was assured through the repeated analysis of the samples. The mean (±standard deviation) concentrations of toxic metals in dried samples of rock salt were as follows: Ni (1.870 ± 0.850), Cd (0.328 ± 0.143), Mn (0.184 ± 0.230) and Co (3.124 ± 0.880) mg/kg and in dry weights of samples obtained from Urmia market: Ni (1.982 ± 0.021), Cd (2.461 ± 0.036), Mn (0.192 ± 0.028) and Co (8.450 ± 0....

Among polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) are of the most concern for human health. In this study, the levels of 12 DL-PCBs congeners were measured in 125 fish samples of the Caspian Sea, Iran. Five fish species (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Vimba vimba, Cyprinus carpio, Rutilus frisii kutum and Chelon saliens) were collected from 5 coastal cities of the Caspian Sea (25 samples per each city). Duncan's multi-scope test was used to compare the mean of DL-PCBs in different fish species and different cities. Probabilistic risk of exposure to DL-PCBs and sensitivity analysis were assessed using Monte Carlo simulation approach. The average (standard deviation) of DL-PCBs in fish samples ranged from 232 (16) to 1156 (14) pg/g lipids. The total maximum concentration was detected in Cyprinus carpio from Bandar Anzali, the minimum in Vimba vimba from Chalos. In all samples, non-carcinogenic risk of exposure to DL-PCBs was in safe level (Hazard Quotient 1). In contrast, the lifetime cancer risk estimated for Bandar Anzali, Bandar Torkaman, and Rasht exceeded the threshold value of 1 × 10

Background: Researchers have recently focused on the use of natural compounds, especially essential oils of high antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in order to reduce the risks of synthetic preservatives. Objectives: Also Therefore, the present study examined the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Zataria multiflora Boiss essential oil and Berberis vulgaris water and ethanol extract (BGE). Methods: In this experimental study, the components of the essential oil were analyzed by GC/MS. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the last well without turbidity, the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined by culturing the wells without turbidity, and the least concentration of essential oil that inhibits bacterial growth was determined by microdilution method. The antioxidant activity of different concentrations of ZEO and BGE was measured by 2, 2-diphenyl, 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, β-carotene-linoleic acid assays and the level of total phenolic. Results: Thymol was found to be the major component of ZEO through chemical composition analysis (44.82%). The results of antioxidative tests indicated that BGE was significantly more potent (P < 0.05) than ZEO. Furthermore, the phenolic content in BG water and ethanol extracts and ZEO were (242.3, 274.6 and 215.4 mg per 100 g), respectively. Furthermore, β-carotene/linoleic acid assay revealed antioxidant inhibition of 67.4%, 62.8% and 73.2% respectively for water extract of BG, ethanol extract of BG and ZEO. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that water and ethanol extracts of BG and essential oil of ZEO have antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Hence, it is suggested that these compounds be added to food products to increase their shelf life.

In this study, the levels of Cd, Hg, Sn, Al, Pb and As of 72 samples (36 samples for fruits juices and 36 samples for fruits canned) of three different brands including of Peach, Orange, Cherry, and Pineapple (18 samples of each fruits) marketed in Tehran, Iran (2015) were evaluated using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) technique. Also, Probabilistic risk assessment (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks) was estimated by models include target hazard quotient (THQ) and cancer risk (CR) in the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) model. However, all samples were contaminated with the heavy metals investigated, most of them not surpassed established standards. The range of concentration for Al, Sn, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb as average in fruit juices were reported as 340.62 (65.17-1039.2), 72.33 (49.76-119.4), 3.76 (1.137-18.36), 2.12 (0.89-3.44), 0.351 and 40.86 (27.87-66.1) μg/kg, respectively. The level of heavy metals measured in different kinds of fruit juices was ranked as Al > Sn > Pb > As > Cd > Hg, and for fruits canned this rank was Pb > Al > Sn > As > Cd > Hg. The range of concentration for Al, Sn, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb in fruits canned were reported as 361.23 (43.15-1121.2), 101.42 (71.45-141.61), 3.92 (1.279-19.50), 2.78 (1.09-5.56), 0.35 and 690.54 (470.56-910.14) μg/kg, respectively. The lead (Pb) concentration in 97.22% (35 out of 36 samples) of fruit juices samples surpassed Codex limit (0.05 mg/kg) and in all samples of FC was lower than the legal limit of Codex limit (1 mg/kg). All of the samples had Tin (Sn) lower than the legal limit of Codex (fruit juices 100 mg/kg and FC 250 mg/kg). The MCS indicated that the rank order of heavy metals in both adults and children based on THQ was Al > Sn > As > Pb > Cd > Hg. The THQ of Al and Sn in the FJ and FC, for both adults, and children, was considerably higher than 1 value. Also, CR of As in both adults and children were higher than 1E-6 value. Although the mean concentration of heavy metal in the FJ and FC was lower than the standard limit, the MCS indicated that adults and children are at considerable non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks.