Yahya R. Tahboub

Although potato and corn chips are among the foods that children in Jordan most desire, it is important to know that they are contaminated with acrylamide and metals from plants and processing. Thus, it is essential that these analytes are subject to close monitoring for safety and nutritional value. This study analyzed acrylamide and 23 elements in 30 potato and corn chip samples from the Jordanian market. The acrylamide concentration was 3.93 ± 1.50 mg/kg and was abundant in potato chips. The decreasing order of detected elements (mg/kg) was Ca (1314 > Mg (519) >> Fe (15.7) > Al (10.6) > Zn (7.01) > Mn, Ni (2.10) > Cu (1.72) > Sr (1.40) > Cr (0.65). The presence of potentially toxic elements (µg/kg) was found to be Pb (201) > Cd (56.1) > As (32.6) > In (1.60) > Tl (0.81). Potato chips have significantly more acrylamide, Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Sr. Local chips have more Ca, Fe, and Ni. A significant difference (P < 0.05) between imported and local chips was observed for Ca and Ni. In contrast, a significant difference between potato and corn chips was observed for acrylamide, Mg, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr, and Ba. Potential health risk hazard was expected from acrylamide samples ( > 1.75 mg/kg) and from lead samples ( > 0.455 mg/kg). No potential health risk hazard was observed from potentially toxic elements. However, four samples showed Pb levels > 0.445 mg/kg, one imported, three local, and four corn chips.

Honey is a common sweetener in the Jordanian diet with an annual consumption of approximately one thousand tons, two-thirds of which are imported. It is believed that the elemental profile of honey is an indicator of safety and botanical and geographic origin. In the literature, there are a lack of studies concerning the levels of major and trace elements in honey in Jordan. A total of 46 elements, including 15 rare earth elements (REEs), were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in 18 monofloral and multifloral imported honey samples and 12 multifloral local samples. Regarding monofloral samples, Black Forest samples had the highest total metal content, while acacia samples had the lowest total metal content. Local multifloral honey had the largest Sr and total REE levels, while it had the lowest Mn levels. Very low levels of toxic elements were found in all samples, indicating the safety of honey in Jordan for human consumption. The results of this study showed that a large number of samples (> 100) and the application of advanced statistical models are required to discriminate between multifloral imported and local honey.

Honey is a common sweetener in the Jordanian diet with annual consumption of about one thousand tons, two-third of them are imported. It is believed that the elemental profile of honey is an indicator of safety and origin. In the literature, there is a lack of studies concerning levels of trace elements in honey in Jordan. A total 49 elements including 18 rare earth elements (REEs) were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in mono-floral, and multi-floral imported honey samples, and multi-floral local samples. Regarding mono-floral samples, Black forest samples has the highest total metal content, while Acasia has the lowest total metal content. Local multi-floral honey has the largest Sr, and total REEs levels, while it has the lowest Mn levels. Very low levels of toxic elements were found in all samples, indicating the safety of honey in Jordan for human consumption. Results of this study showed that advanced statistical models are required to discriminate between multi-floral imported and local honey.

Human breast milk and infant formula milk powder (IFMP) are the main nutritional sources for infants. In the literature, there is a lack of studies concerning levels of trace elements in human milk and IMP in Jordan. The aim of this research was the determination of levels of 24 trace elements in human breast milk from Jordanian mothers (n = 76) and IFMP from Jordanian market (n = 22). Elements were classified to essential (Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cr, Mo, Co, and Se), non-essential (Al, Ag, Ba, Bi, Cs, Ga, Li, Rb, Sr, U, and V), and potentially toxic (As, Cd, and Pb). Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following a microwave digestion of samples with concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide was performed. Our results featured levels of each targeted element in human milk and IFMP (mean, standard deviation (SD), median, and range). Statistical analysis included a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson’s correlations. A sample toxicological analysis study for toxic elements As, Cd, and Pb was performed, and results were inspected. Levels of most elements including toxic elements are larger than in human milk samples, and comparable to in IFPMs to literature results. Mean levels of majority of the elements (17 out of 24) in human milk were significantly different than respective means in IFMP solutions. Positive correlation was observed between total toxic elements and Al, Cu, and Fe in human milk samples. Results of toxicological analysis demonstrated that most of IFMP samples do not represent a health hazard to infants regarding As, Cd, and Pb. The same applies for Cd in human milk samples. However, levels of As and Pb in 70% of human milk samples exceed the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for As and Pb.

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Myeloperoxidase (MPO) structural analysis has suggested that halides and pseudohalides bind to the distal binding site and serve as substrates or inhibitors, while others have concluded that there are two separate sites. Here, evidence for two distinct binding sites for halides comes from the bell-shaped effects observed when the second-order rate constant of nitric oxide (NO) binding to MPO was plotted versus Cl^- concentration. The chloride level used in the X-ray structure that produced Cl^- binding to the amino terminus of the helix halide binding site was insufficient to populate either of the two sites that appear to be responsible for the two phases. Biphasic effects were also observed when the I^-, Br^-, and SCN^- concentrations were plotted against the NO combination rate constants. Interestingly, the trough concentrations obtained from the bell-shaped curves are comparable to normal plasma levels of halides and pseudohalides, suggesting the potential relevance of these molecules in modulating MPO function. The second-order rate constant of NO binding in the presence of plasma levels of I^-, Br^-, and SCN^- is 1−2-fold lower compared to that obtained in the absence of these molecules and remains unaltered through the Cl^- plasma level. When Cl^- exceeded the plasma level, the NO combination rate becomes indistinguishable from the second phase of the bell-shaped curve that was obtained in the absence of halides. Our results are consistent with two halide binding sites that could be populated by two halides in which both display distinct effects on the MPO heme iron microenvironment.