The levels of heavy metal, acrylamide, nitrate, nitrite, N-nitrosamine compounds in brewed black tea and health risk assessment: Türkiye

Tea, which is widely consumed around the world, contains many beneficial compounds as well as some compounds that can cause potential health risks for humans. This study aimed to determine the levels of heavy metals, nitrate, nitrite, N-nitrosamines, and acrylamide in brewed black teas of different brands produced in Türkiye and to evaluate the level of exposure due to black tea consumption in terms of neurotoxic, carcinogenic, and non-carcinogenic health risks. Within the scope of the study, a total of 20 brews were made from black teas of 10 different brands, taking into account the tea consumption habits of individuals and expert opinions. According to the mean levels of heavy metals in brewed black tea, they were listed as Al (10,538 ± 2179 µg/L) > Mn (4122 ± 1050 µg/L) > Ni (69.5 ± 14.2 µg/L) > Cu (20.6 ± 7.37 µg/L) > Cr (4.93 ± 0.85 µg/L) > Co (2.56 ± 0.45 µg/L), while As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were not detected. The mean acrylamide and nitrate levels in brewed black teas were 40.0 ± 13.9 µg/L and 3.62 ± 1.31 mg/L, respectively. N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosomethylethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, N-nitrosopiperidine, N-nitrosodibutylamine were detected < 0.32, < 0.42, < 0.44, < 0.36, < 0.32, and < 0.38 µg/L, respectively, while nitrite was not detected. The highest exposure to compounds due to tea consumption was estimated in individuals aged 19–64 years. According to the hazard index (HI) values calculated for the general population (15 +), the potential non-carcinogenic risk of tea consumption patterns was ranked as over-brewed > normal brewed > light brewed. It was found that acrylamide exposure resulting from light, normal, and over brewed tea consumption does not pose a carcinogenic (429–6200) or neurotoxic (476–4000) health risk.