Na and K play a fundamental role in the distribution of fluids inside and outside cells. Na and K have an effect on the regulation of blood-pressure levels. It plays a protective role against cardiovascular disease by increasing endothelium-dependent vasodilation, improving lipid metabolism, reducing systemic inflammation and inhibiting platelet aggregation. The percentage of Mg existing in the body is 70% in the skeleton, with the rest in the cells. Another important element from a physiological point of view is Mg, which plays a key role in muscle contraction, gland secretion and nerve transmission. The latest research has determined that high Ca levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Ca is a major contributor in the prevention of cancer, as well as bone health. Essential trace elements are important for the biochemical and physiological functions of the human body. The main minerals essential for humans are calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sodium (Na) and magnesium (Mg), while iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iodine (I) and selenium (Se) are trace elements. Research carried out in Romania as well as in other countries in the world has shown that the highest concentrations of trace elements were obtained in the case of samples of vegetables and fruits grown in soils near mining operations as well as industrial areas. The impact on soil quality is mainly due to the addition of heavy metals, which can have an impact on soil biodiversity and, in the case of Cd, on food quality. The management of fertilizers and manure is relevant for the production of food, but simultaneously causes effects on the environment, due to the negative effects on air, soil and water quality. Contamination of food with heavy metals is influenced by the following factors: the composition of the soil, the genotype of the plant, the environment, and the type of fertilizers and pesticides used. “Food intake of plant-derived foods is a major fraction of human exposure that can endanger health”. In recent years, environmental contamination by heavy metals has been a global concern, due to their persistence and mobility between the biotic and abiotic spheres. The results on the content of macro elements and trace elements, as well as the assessment of the risk to human health when consuming the assessed vegetables, were within the limits of European Union (EU) and World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization (WHO/FAO)legislation.Įven though nutrient deficiency is one of the major health concerns in both developed and developing countries, exceeding certain limits should not be overlooked. Following the determination of THQ, the values obtained followed the order THQ With > THQ Cd > THQ Pb > THQ Co > THQ Mn > THQ Zn > THQ Fe. The risk assessment for human health was determined on the basis of the estimated daily dose (EDI), the values of the target hazard coefficient (THQ), the values of the total target hazard coefficient (TTHQ) and the carcinogenic risk (CR). At the same time, based on the values obtained for trace elements, an assessment of the risk to human health in terms of consumption of the vegetables studied was carried out. The values obtained for the macro elements and trace elements were used as input data for the analysis of multivariate data, the principal component analysis (PCA) in which the vegetable samples were grouped according to their contribution of certain mineral elements, as well as according to some of the botanical families to which they belong. The atomic-absorption-spectrometry technique (FAAS) was used to evaluate the macro elements and trace elements. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the macro elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) and trace elements (Cu, Mn, Fe, Cd, Pb, Zn, Co) in 24 samples of vegetables from four botanical families ( Solanaceae, Brassicaceae, Apiaceae and Amaryllidaceae), purchased from the market in Timișoara, Romania, both imported products as well as local products. It is very important that in the case of some minerals their content in vegetables is known, so that the recommended limits are not exceeded. However, in addition to minerals which are beneficial to the body, certain minerals with a negative influence on human health can sneak in. Vegetable consumption is recommended and encouraged by all nutritionists and doctors across the planet.
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