Pb in medicinal plants from Jordan

This is the first report on Pb in medicinal herbs from Jordan. Medicinal herbs may present a health risk due to the presence of toxic metals. Seventy-nine dry medicinal plant samples were collected from herbalist shops in Jordan. The plants were digested with acids and analyzed for total Pb concentration using atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean Pb concentration was 15.9 μg/g on a dry weight basis. Our results show that Pb concentrations in Jordan medicinal plants are higher than published data in other countries. The highest level of 33.4 μg Pb/g was determined in Inula viscosa, and the lowest level of 3.0 μg Pb/g was found in Nigella sativa. Calculated daily intakes of Pb of most analyzed herbs were high; most of them are higher than recommended values by the world health organization (WHO). Fortunately, the herbs that contain the highest Pb levels are the less commonly used medicinal herbs in Jordan. The mean Pb levels in the most commonly, commonly and less commonly used herbs in Jordan are 13.9, 13.1 and 16.9 μg Pb/g, respectively. The average dietary intake of Pb through a mixture of these medicinal herbs consumption, assuming 5.0 g herbs is consumed daily, is 79.5 μg Pb/day, which is higher than the maximum daily limit allowed by WHO. We conclude that most of the medicinal plants consumed in Jordan contain significant amount of Pb, and therefore, people of Jordan should not consume large amounts of these herbs.     

Fluoride Content in Drinking Water Supplies of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Groundwater supplies about 34% ofthe total water demand for the capital city of SaudiArabia, Riyadh. The other 66% is desalinatedseawater. The fluoride level in Riyadh drinking watersupplies was evaluated. Samples were collected fromselected wells, treatment plants, desalinatedseawater, distribution network and 19 locally producedand imported bottled water. The fluoride level in theinfluent to the seven groundwater treatment plants andtheir final product water were in the range of 0.63–1.6 and 0.23–1.1 mg/L, respectively. Blending of theplants product water with the desalinated seawaterresulted in the fluoride level ranging from 0.01–0.5 mg/Lin the distribution network. Ninety percent of thesamples collected from the distribution network hadfluoride levels less than or equal to the calculatedweighted average value of 0.24 mg/L. The locallyproduced bottled waters as compared to 8 imported oneshave shown fluoride levels in the range of 0.2–0.83and 0.04–0.2 mg/L, respectively. In general, thefluoride level in Riyadh drinking water supplies isbelow the optimum recommended level of 0.7 to1.2 mg/L. It is therefore recommended thatfluoridation be considered in water treatment plants.