Chemometric identification of a few heavy metals, pesticides and plasticides in edible sunflower oil for health risk assessment

ABSTRACTSunflower oil demand is increasing, pertaining to its vital qualities. The quality of sunflower oil cannot be ascertained with adulteration detection only. It also includes the detection of the presence of other harmful substances, such as pesticides, plasticides, and heavy metals; which are commonly known as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals [EDC]. The above chemicals even at a trace level are harmful, for consumption. The proposed work was to detect the presence of EDC from sunflower oil. The results after analysis revealed the contamination of heavy metals ranging from mercury (0–82.2 ppm), arsenic (0–0.97 ppm), cadmium (0–0.48 ppm), and lead (below detectable limit). QuEChERS method was used to detect the presence of pesticides (Permethrin, N, N-Dimethyldecanamide) and plasticides (Bisphenol, Dioctyl Phthalate-DIOP, Dibutyl phthalate) from sunflower oil. The work also identified the health risk on regular consumption of sunflower oil containing the above compounds.