Table 2.
Concentration range of cadmium, lead, copper, iron, and zinc (mg·kg−1) in herb samples, and percentage of samples above permissible limits (PL).
| Herbs | Cadmium (Cd) | Lead (Pb) | Copper (Cu)∗ | Iron (Fe) | Zinc (Zn) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mint | Range (mg·kg−1) | ∗∗ | 1.44 ± 0.67–9.24 ± 1.02 | 3.82 ± 0.02–12.32 ± 0.31 | 150.57 ± 10.34–821.02 ± 17.83 | 12.65 ± 1.05–52.97 ± 2.81 |
| % of sample above PL (n/N) | 0% (0/13) | 0% (0/13) | 0% (0/13) | ND | 7% (1/13) | |
|
| ||||||
| Parsley | Range | ∗∗−0.21 ± 0.07 | ∗∗−12.83 ± 0.97 | 4.21 ± 0.13–13.29 ± (0.29) | 81.26 ± 7.00–605.50 ± 14.87 | 19.32 ± 0.35–50.10 ± 1.22 |
| % of sample above PL (n/N) | 0% (0/13) | 46% (6/13) | 0% (0/13) | ND | 7% (1/13) | |
|
| ||||||
| Chamomile | Range | ∗∗−0.82 ± 0.02 | 5.37 ± 1.25–11.40 ± 1.32 | 6.12 ± 1.03–12.99 ± 0.48 | 188.27 ± 3.72–581.30 ± 41.889 | 25.23 ± 3.56–38.93 ± 3.14 |
| % of sample above PL (n/N) | 55% (5/9) | 44% (4/9) | 66% (6/9) | ND | 0% (0/9) | |
|
| ||||||
| Basil | Range | 0.13 ± 0.01–1.11 ± 0.07 | 9.01 ± 0.28–16.15 ± 2.53 | 1.44 ± 0.53–18.87 ± 1.46 | 185.73 ± 13.02–1101.23 ± 49.46 | 15.22 ± 1.31–112.19 ± 3.44 |
| % of sample above PL (n/N) | 80% (8/10) | 90% (9/10) | 0% (0/10) | ND | 50% (5/10) | |
|
| ||||||
| Sage | Range | ∗∗−0.88 ± 0.08 | 12.66 ± 1.54–21.76 ± 1.33 | 5.17 ± 0.03–156.24 ± 1.22 | 204.15 ± 19.62–799.31 ± 36.85 | 24.64 ± 0.53–58.78 ± 2.72 |
| % of sample above PL (n/N) | 66% (6/9) | 100% (10/10) | 18% (2/11) | ND | 36% (4/11) | |
|
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| Oregano | Range | ∗∗−0.35 ± 0.02 | 9.39 ± 1.77–18.06 ± 2.32 | 3.99 ± 0.35–41.64 ± 2.20 | 155.74 ± 4.67–420.52 ± 15.19 | 13.33 ± 2.15–37.28 ± 0.71 |
| % of sample above PL (n/N) | 9% (1/11) | 90% (10/11) | 18% (2/11) | ND | 0% (0/11) | |
|
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| Thyme | Range | ∗∗−0.63 ± 0.07 | 9.07 ± 0.34–23.52 ± 1.68 | 3.52 ± 0.22–13.16 ± 0.33 | 120.75 ± 1.82–764.51 ± 39.15 | 16.50 ± 1.29–146.67 ± 7.57 |
| % of sample above PL (n/N) | 27% (3/11) | 91% (11/12) | 0% (0/12) | ND | 38% (5/13) | |
|
| ||||||
| % of all samples above PL | 29% | 64% | 12% | ND | 19% | |
∗China set PL 20 mg·kg−1.
∗∗Concentration below Method Quantification Limit (MQL): 0.1, 1 mg·kg−1 for cadmium and lead, respectively.
N: total number of samples analyzed for the metal; n: number of samples above permissible limits (PL).
ND: set limits not determined for iron.