Aluminum and Heavy Metal Accumulation in Tea Leaves: An Interplay of Environmental and Plant Factors and an Assessment of Exposure Risks to Consumers

• Published in: Journal of food science Vol. 83; no. 4; pp. 1165 - 1172
• Main Authors: Peng, Chuan‐yi, Zhu, Xiao‐hui, Hou, Ru‐yan, Ge, Gao‐fei, Hua, Ri‐mao, Wan, Xiao‐chun, Cai, Hui‐mei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.04.2018
• Subjects: Accumulation; Aluminum; Aluminum - analysis; Cadmium; China; Consumer Product Safety; Consumers; Consumption; Copper; Ecological risk assessment; environmental and plant factors; Environmental assessment; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Exposure; Food Contamination - analysis; Heavy metals; Lead; Leaves; Manganese; Metal concentrations; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Nutrition Policy; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plants; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Seasons; Soil conditions; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Tea; Tea - chemistry; environmental and plant factors; risk assessment; tea; aluminum; heavy metals
• ISSN: 0022-1147; 1750-3841
• DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.14093

Environmental and plant factors (soil condition, variety, season, and maturity) and exposure risks of aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and copper (Cu) in tea leaves were investigated. The concentrations of these metals in tea leaves could not be predicted by their total concentrations in the soil. During any one season, there were differences in Al, Mn, and Cd levels between tea varieties. Seasonally, autumn tea and/or summer tea had far higher levels of Al, Mn, Pb, and Cd than did spring tea. Tea leaf maturity positively correlated with the concentrations of Al, Mn, Pb, and Cd, but negatively with Cu. The calculated average daily intake doses (mg/ [kg•d]) for these metal elements were 0.14 (Al), 0.11 (Mn), 2.70 × 10−3 (Cu), 2.80 × 10−4 (Pb), and 2.88 × 10−6 (Cd). The hazard quotient values of each metal were all significantly lower than risk level (=1), suggesting that, for the general population, consumption of tea does not result in the intake of excessive amounts of Al, Mn, Pb, Cd, or Cu. This study identified the factors that can be monitored in the field to decrease consumer exposure to Al and Mn through tea consumption. Practical Application Environmental and plant factors influence aluminum and heavy metal accumulation in tea leaves. Consumers of tea are not ingesting excessive Al, Mn, Pb, Cd, or Cu. Trackable factors were identified to manage exposure levels.