Statistical Comparison and Human Health Risk Assessment of Some Toxic and Trace Elements in Trachystemon orientalis...

Trachystemon orientalis (L.) G. Don is an edible wild plant widely consumed as food and used in complementary medicine in Türkiye. This study aimed to determine the concentrations of some toxic and trace elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, and total Cr) in Trachystemon orientalis collected from two districts of Düzce Province and to compare wet and microwave digestion methods using ICP-OES and FAAS. Principal component analysis (PCA) and human health risk assessment based on estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard index (HI) were also performed. According to ICP-OES results, the highest concentrations (mg/kg) were 239.09 ± 40.29 for Fe in microwave-digested samples from Gümüşova, 6.11 ± 0.89 for Cu and 21.15 ± 2.64 for Zn in wet-digested samples from Gümüşova, 3.40 ± 0.72 for Pb and 0.13 ± 0.04 for Cd in wet-digested samples from Kaynaşlı, and 1.01 ± 0.14 for Cr in microwave-digested samples from Kaynaşlı. FAAS results showed maximum concentrations of 221.47 ± 24.34 mg/kg for Fe in microwave-digested samples, and 4.66 ± 1.01 mg/kg for Cu and 24.22 ± 1.13 mg/kg for Zn in wet-digested samples from Gümüşova. A direct comparison between FAAS and ICP-OES was therefore limited to Fe, Cu, and Zn, as Pb, Cd, and Cr were below the detection capability of FAAS under the experimental conditions employed. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant effects of digestion method and/or sampling region on the concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd (p < 0.05), whereas Cr was significantly affected only by the interaction between digestion method and sampling region. PCA results showed clear separation of samples according to digestion method. All the HQ and HI values were less than 1, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic risk. Overall, Trachystemon orientalis samples did not pose a significant health risk.