Multi-element analysis of food dyes and assessment of consumer's health

The present study assessed metallic contaminants levels in food colourings using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in 51 samples of food dyes marketed in Algeria. The analysed samples were contaminated with lead (0.77 +/- 0.034), arsenic (0.008 +/- 0.006), cadmium (0.102 +/- 0.047), cobalt (0.017 +/- 0.008), copper (0.025 +/- 0.011), chromium (0.820 +/- 0.051), and nickel (0.022 +/- 0.009) mu g g(-1). Mercury constituted a minor contaminant (<0.001 to 0.002 <mu>g g(-1)). Turmeric and saffron were the most contaminated with Pb, As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, and Ni (p < 0.05). Health risk assessment revealed that infant population presents adverse non-carcinogenic effects (THQ = 4.25) and carcinogenic risk (HI = 4.65) linked to the consumption of food dyes contaminated with Cr.