Trace elements in selected food matrices from Estarreja (Portugal): an exploratory screening of concentrations and food-origin patterns
Abstract
The persistence of metallic trace elements (MTE) contamination in industrialized areas poses a long-term threat to food safety. This study quantifies total MTEs including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) in locally consumed foods, while mercury (Hg) was measured only fish samples, compares contamination patterns between local and imported products, and contextualizes measured concentrations using regulatory and toxicological reference values in Estarreja (Portugal), a region historically impacted by chemical emissions. A total of 83 food samples representing ten categories (cereals, fruits, milk and dairy products, vegetables, dark-green leafy vegetables, legumes, eggs, fish and seafood, roots, tubers, and starchy foods, muscle and other animal proteins) were collected from home gardens, local markets, and supermarkets. Concentrations of regulated MTEs remained below the available maximum levels established by Regulation (EU) 2023/915. The highest mean Cd (0.03 mg/kg fw) and Pb (0.02 mg/kg fw) concentrations were observed in dark-green leafy vegetables, and As in fish (0.09 mg/kg fw). No significant differences were observed between local and imported products in this screening study, although local foods tended to exhibit slightly higher metal loads. Overall, the results indicate that concentrations of regulated MTEs were below the available regulatory thresholds in the food matrices considered, while highlighting variability among food categories and the relevance of continued monitoring in industrial legacy-affected areas.
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BibTeX
@article{deghel2026trace,
title = {{Trace elements in selected food matrices from Estarreja (Portugal): an exploratory screening of concentrations and food-origin patterns}},
author = {Nathalie El Deghel and Nuno Durães and Eduardo Ferreira da Silva and Michael Rapinski and Priscilla Duboz and Jean-Philippe Bedell},
journal = {Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.hazadv.2026.101674},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05804292v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Trace elements in selected food matrices from Estarreja (Portugal): an exploratory screening of concentrations and food-origin patterns
AU - Nathalie El Deghel
AU - Nuno Durães
AU - Eduardo Ferreira da Silva
AU - Michael Rapinski
AU - Priscilla Duboz
AU - Jean-Philippe Bedell
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/17
JO - Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
DO - 10.1016/j.hazadv.2026.101674
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05804292v1
AB - The persistence of metallic trace elements (MTE) contamination in industrialized areas poses a long-term threat to food safety. This study quantifies total MTEs including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) in locally consumed foods, while mercury (Hg) was measured only fish samples, compares contamination patterns between local and imported products, and contextualizes measured concentrations using regulatory and toxicological reference values in Estarreja (Portugal), a region historically impacted by chemical emissions. A total of 83 food samples representing ten categories (cereals, fruits, milk and dairy products, vegetables, dark-green leafy vegetables, legumes, eggs, fish and seafood, roots, tubers, and starchy foods, muscle and other animal proteins) were collected from home gardens, local markets, and supermarkets. Concentrations of regulated MTEs remained below the available maximum levels established by Regulation (EU) 2023/915. The highest mean Cd (0.03 mg/kg fw) and Pb (0.02 mg/kg fw) concentrations were observed in dark-green leafy vegetables, and As in fish (0.09 mg/kg fw). No significant differences were observed between local and imported products in this screening study, although local foods tended to exhibit slightly higher metal loads. Overall, the results indicate that concentrations of regulated MTEs were below the available regulatory thresholds in the food matrices considered, while highlighting variability among food categories and the relevance of continued monitoring in industrial legacy-affected areas.
SN - 2772-4166
ER -