A Comprehensive Analysis of Chemical and Biological Pollutants (Natural and Anthropogenic Origin) of Soil and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Samples

Author: mycolabadmin
2023-01-20
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Summary

This research examined the safety of dandelion plants collected from different locations in Poland, focusing on both chemical pollutants and biological contaminants. While the plants were found to be remarkably free of chemical pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides, they harbored numerous harmful bacteria and parasites, especially in urban areas. This has important implications for people who collect and consume dandelions. Impacts on everyday life: – People collecting dandelions for food or medicine should be especially careful about thorough washing of plants – Urban foraging carries higher risks of contamination than collecting from rural areas – Heat treatment (cooking, making tea) is safer than consuming raw dandelion leaves – Pet owners should be particularly cautious when collecting plants from areas frequented by animals – The findings support the safety of dandelion in terms of chemical pollutants but highlight biological contamination risks

Background

Herbs have been used for millennia as important foodstuffs, medicines, and cosmetic treatments. According to WHO, approximately 80% of the world’s population uses herbal products for therapeutic purposes. The safety of herbal products, both cultivated and wild-harvested, is increasingly questioned due to environmental pollution from fossil fuel combustion, industrial production, human mobility, and waste accumulation. Chemical contamination threats include heavy metals, PAHs, PCBs, dioxins, pesticides and mycotoxins, while biological contamination can come from pathogenic microorganisms and parasites.

Objective

To conduct a comprehensive analysis of chemical and biological contaminants in dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and surrounding soil samples collected from three different sites in Poland, using a range of analytical methods including GC-MS, LC-MS, voltammetry, microbiological and microscopic techniques, and PCR. The study aimed to provide the first comprehensive safety analysis of dandelion as a herbal product.

Results

The chemical analysis showed all samples were largely free of PAHs, PCBs, dioxins, pesticides and mycotoxins, with heavy metal levels generally below regulatory limits. However, 95 species of pathogenic bacteria were detected, including dangerous pathogens like Vibrio vulnificus, Fusobacterium mortiferum, and Rahnella aquatilis. Additionally, 14 species of pathogenic fungi and one protozoan parasite (Giardia intestinalis) were identified. The highest bacterial contamination was found in samples from Warsaw sites compared to the mountain meadow location.

Conclusion

While the dandelion samples showed high chemical purity, significant biological contamination was found, particularly in urban areas with high population density and pet presence. The discovery of dangerous pathogens in recreational areas and residential zones of Warsaw is concerning. Thorough washing of harvested plants is necessary before consumption, especially for fresh salads. Heat treatment when preparing traditional infusions and flower preserves should help reduce infection risks.

Published in:PLOS One,
Study Type:Environmental Analysis,
Source: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280810