Risk Assessment of AFM1 in Raw Milk and Dairy Products Produced in Armenia, a Caucasus Region Country: A Pilot Study.

This paper presents the first assessment of dietary exposure to aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and associated health risks through milk and dairy product consumption in Armenia. Data on AFM1 in raw milk were obtained from an annual residue monitoring program. Additionally, commonly consumed dairy products (pasteurized milk, cheese, sour cream, curd cheese) were sampled, considering the sources of raw milk used by dairy companies.

Exposure Assessment of Nitrofuran Metabolites in Fish and Honey Produced in Armenia: A Pilot Investigation.

In Armenia, the presence of nitrofuran residues in food products is unacceptable for both domestic sales and export. However, food may contain nitrofuran metabolites (NMs) due to the illegal use of these drugs in the agrofarming practice. This study aimed to identify NMs as the marker residues for nitrofurans in fish and honey produced in Armenia and assess the potential health risks associated with consuming these foods.

Assessment of Heme and Non-Heme Iron Intake and Its Dietary Sources among Adults in Armenia.

Adequate dietary iron (Fe) intake is crucial for preventing Fe-deficient anemia, a recognized global public health concern which is important in Armenia. This study aimed to analyze the intake of Fe, both heme (from animal tissues) and non-heme (more prevalent, but less efficiently absorbed), as well as the Fe dietary sources, among adults in a representative national sample in Armenia. The study was conducted on 1400 individuals aged 18-80 and above, who were enrolled from all regions of Armenia.

Risk assessment of dietary exposure to trace elements that are reproductive toxicants: Lead, molybdenum and nickel. The case study of Armenia.

The research aimed to assess dietary exposure to developmental toxicants (Mo, Ni, Pb) among the Armenian adult female population of reproductive age (18-49 years). Commonly consumed foods with a daily intake of more than 1 g in Armenia have been selected to assess the occurrence of Mo, Ni, and Pb. Food consumption data among the adult population in Armenia were collected in the frame of the national survey via 24-h recall method.

Health risks of heavy metals in food and their economic burden in Armenia.

Mining leads to excessive heavy metal contamination of agricultural products in Armenia and can adversely impact human health. We quantify the concentrations of toxic heavy metals (lead, nickel, cadmium, and mercury) in food sampled from local markets of the capital city, Yerevan. We combine these measured concentrations with data from a diet survey of 1,195 people.

Assessing Dietary Intakes from Household Budget Survey in Armenia, 2008-2019.

Household budget surveys are used regularly to estimate dietary intakes. The study aims to assess the trends in food consumption and nutrient intake, according to 14 dietary indicators from household budget surveys in Armenia. Data on food consumption was obtained from Armenian Integrated Living Conditions Surveys, 2008-2019.

Risk Characterization of the Armenian Population to Nickel: Application of Deterministic and Probabilistic Approaches to a Total Diet Study in Yerevan City.

Nickel (Ni) is a widespread metal that occurs in food and drinking water from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Oral exposure to Ni can induce a variety of adverse effects; the European Food Safety Authority established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 13 μg/kg bw and a lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) of 4.3 μg/kg bw to assess the risk of allergic reactions upon acute exposure.

Compositional features of Pb in agricultural soils and geochemical associations conditioning Pb contents in plants.

Soil geochemical data is compositional. Hence the studies targeting the potential of accumulation of toxic elements (TE) in plants have to consider the compositional nature of soil chemical environment. In this study, the combined application of compositional data analysis and geospatial mapping was used to investigate Pb geochemical associations in agricultural soils, revealing the link between these associations and Pb contents in plants, as well as identifying source-specific transfer of Pb from soil to plants.

Risk assessment of uptake of trace elements through consumption of cereals: a pilot study in Yerevan, Armenia.

The study aimed to assess the dietary exposure and related human health risks associated with trace elements through the intake of staple cereals, including buckwheat, rice, and emmer. The contents of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Nickel (Ni), Molybdenum (Mo), Iron (Fe), and Copper (Cu) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Cereal consumption data were obtained through a Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire amongst the Yerevan adult population.

Trans-Fatty Acids in Fast-Food and Intake Assessment for Yerevan's Population, Armenia.

There are stringent regulations applicable for trans-fatty acid (TFA) limitations from food supply across the world. However, in Armenia, there is a scarcity of data on TFA content in food products and their consumption levels. Considering that fast-food is among the major contributors to TFA intake, this study aims to assess the dietary exposure of TFAs through the consumption of fast-food in Yerevan, Armenia.

Risk assessment of potentially toxic trace elements via consumption of dairy products sold in the city of Yerevan, Armenia.

The study aimed to investigate the potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs) Pb, Cd, Hg, Mo, and Cu in dairy products sold in Yerevan's markets and to assess the related exposure and possible health risks among the adult population residing in the capital city of Armenia, Yerevan. The PTEs contents were determined in widely consumed dairy products (pasteurized milk, sour cream, matsoun and cheese from cow milk) using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. PTE contents were in the range of 7.

Toxic element contents and associated multi-medium health risk assessment in an area under continuous agricultural use.

Soils and contaminated plants are in the group of significant environmental pathways of human exposure to toxic elements (TEs). This study aimed to assess the soil-to-plant transfer of TEs (Pb, As, Cd, Hg), as well as the plausible health risks via different exposure pathways in the Armavir region of Armenia. The contents of TEs were determined in soil, fruit and vegetable samples using X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopy, respectively, and the soil-to-plant transfer of TEs and induced chronic non-carcinogenic risks were evaluated.

The Effect of Trans Fatty Acids on Human Health: Regulation and Consumption Patterns.

Health effects of trans fatty acids (TFAs) on human organisms can vary according to their type, structure, composition, and origin. Even though the adverse health effects of industrial TFAs (iTFAs) have been widely discussed, the health effects of natural TFAs (nTFAs) are still questionable. Hence, it is important to review the literature and provide an overall picture on the health effects of different TFAs coming from industrial and ruminant sources, underlining those types that have adverse health effects as well as suggesting methods for reducing their harmful effects.

Health risk assessment of toxicologically relevant residues in emerging countries: A pilot study on Malachite Green residues in farmed freshwater fish of Armenia.

Malachite Green (MG) has a worldwide application in aquaculture as a therapeutic agent; however, its use in food producing animals is illegal, due to potential carcinogenicity and persistence of residues. This pilot study, the first conducted in Armenia, aimed to determine the concentration of MG residues in flesh of fish grown in artificial ponds of Armenia and conduct dietary exposure assessment to characterize possible health risks to consumers. Detection of MG residues, including the major metabolite leucomalachite, was carried out in 29 fish composite samples by ELISA.

Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessment of trace elements and POPs in honey from Shirak and Syunik regions of Armenia.

Honey is a highly nutritious natural product widely produced and consumed by people in Shirak and Syunik regions of Armenia. Unlike Shirak, Syunik is under the impact of mining industry. Since the environmental pollution can adversely impact the safety of honey and entail a probable risk to human health, it is important to evaluate the presence of potentially toxic trace elements in honey samples from both regions and draw comparisons.

Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Trace and Elements in Vegetables Grown Under the Impact of Kajaran Mining Complex.

Mining industry is one of the priority sectors of Armenia's economy. However, mining complexes without treatment facilities, such as those in Armenia, have adverse environmental impact. Moreover, soil contamination can pose a potential risk to human health, particularly, through the consumption of food crops.

Dietary Exposure Assessment of Potentially Toxic Trace Elements in Fruits and Vegetables Sold in Town of Kapan, Armenia.

Fruits and vegetables grown under the impact of Armenia's mining industry are widely sold in markets of adjacent towns. As the share of fruits and vegetables in Armenians' diet is significant, the present study aims to assess the dietary exposure of potentially toxic trace elements through the intake of fruits and vegetables sold in Kapan town, located in the biggest mining region of Armenia. The concentrations of Cu, Mo, Ni, Cr, Pb, Zn, Hg, As, and Cd in 15 types of fruits and vegetables were determined.