Soil-to-plant transfer factor for stable elements in lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) and estimates of the daily intakes

Abstract

This study evaluated the transfer factor (TF) of stable elements from soil to Melissa officinalis and the estimated daily intakes for potentially toxic elements. INAA, GFAAS, and ICP-OES techniques were applied to determine the elemental concentration. Br, Ca, Cd, K, Ni, and Rb accumulated the most with the TF (> 1.0), followed by Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, Sb, and Zn (0.1–1.0), while As, Fe, Hf, La, Sc, Sm, Th, Ti, and V had the lowest accumulation (< 0.1). The daily intake (μg day− 1) of As (1.35–10.35), Br (22.5–297), Cd (0.09–0.54), Cr (220–1,270), Cu (31.5–76.5), Ni (0.09–0.54), Pb (4.5–31.5), and Zn (139.5–400.5) even overestimated was still lower than values established by WHO/FAO.