Assessment of heavy metal content in refined and unrefined salts obtained from Urmia, Iran

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 +/- 0.025) mg/kg. There was a significant difference between the toxic metal concentrations and their guideline values. Therefore, it was important to assess the public health risks posed by the presence of toxic contaminants.