Chemical contamination of foods pose a significant risk to consumers. A source of this risk is due to the consumption of products contaminated with heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). The aim of the study was to research the levels of Cd and Pb contamination of selected species of vegetables and fruits in the form of fresh, frozen, dried and processed products. The goal was to verify which of these food groups was more contaminated with heavy metals. The study covered 370 samples of fruits and vegetables including apples, pears, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, as well as beetroots, celeries, carrots and tomatoes. The content of Cd and Pb was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Quantitative results were analyzed using statistical models: analysis of variance, outlier analysis, post-hoc multiple comparison Tukey test. The tests showed that the levels of Cd and Pb concentration in samples of fresh, processed, frozen and dried fruits and vegetables varied substantially. The highest concentrations were recorded in dried products. Several fruit and vegetable samples exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations of Cd and Pb. The contamination of these products could be a significant source of consumer exposure to heavy metals when these products are a part of the diet.

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution contributes to shortened life expectancies of UE citizens by an average of 8.6 months. The aim of our study was to see if there is a relationship between exposure of inhabitants of cities to air pollution and the length of their lives, excluding deaths caused by external causes. Average annual concentrations of air pollutants such as PM 10 , benzo(a)pyrene, cadmium and lead in PM 10 were based on data from the measuring stations, while the concentrations of dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls were their own measurements. The average women's and men's life expectancies in 11 cities in the year 2015, after excluding accidents and suicides, were calculated on the basis of the registry of deaths. Inequalities in men's and women's life expectancies are significant between cities and there is a relationship between exposure to air pollutants and the length of men's and women's lives in each city, demonstrating a very strong correlation in the male population. An effective tool for identifying significant risk factors affecting human health seems to be the multiple regression model.

No abstract

No abstract