Abstract
The effect of environmental pollution on contamination and safety of foods for human consumption is a serious global issue, which is widely addressed. Heavy metals are one of the most frequent environmental pollutants that are very health-threatening. This cross-sectional study is aimed at investigating the heavy metals content in different types of bread used in Zahedan city, Southeastern Iran. A total of 36 different bread types, such as Sangak, Lavash, and Taftoon, baked by bakeries in Zahedan City were examined for various heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, As, Cu, Co, Hg, Zn, and Ni) by inductive coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The hazard quotient (HQ) of Taftoon, Lavash, and Sangak was <1 in males, females, and children. Also, the total health risk of the nine studied heavy metals had a ranking order of HIchildren＞HIfemales＞HImales＞1, showing an increasing potential. The total carcinogenic risk factor for bread was found to be 9.98×10-5 in males and 3.26×10-3 in females. Regarding the carcinogenicity of heavy metals in bread samples collected in Zahedan, it is highly recommended that controlling measures, such as the implementation of a food control system, proper storage of flour, and training farmers, should be taken promptly to reduce contamination.