Assessment of lead and cadmium levels in flour supplied in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province

Heavy metals are among the most persistent and complex pollutants in nature. Cereals and cereal-based products account for 47% of the world's total food energy intake. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of lead and cadmium in flour supplied in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province using the atomic absorption method. Forty wheat flour samples were collected from production centers. After preparation, lead and cadmium concentrations were measured using a Varian 240 atomic absorption spectrometer. The results showed that the highest and lowest average lead concentrations were observed in September (0.012 ± 0.064 mg/kg) and in November and June (0.0063 ± 0.022 mg/kg), respectively. The highest and lowest average cadmium concentrations were recorded in June (0.035 ± 0.0019 mg/kg) and November (0.01 ± 0.0057 mg/kg), respectively. The average concentration of cadmium across the four months was 0.021 ± 0.0030 mg/kg, while the average lead concentration was 0.0089 ± 0.028 mg/kg. The results indicated no significant correlation between the levels of lead and cadmium in flour samples from different months of the year. Furthermore, the concentrations of both lead and cadmium were found to be below the permissible limits set by Iran’s national standards, suggesting that there is no risk to consumers.