Comprehensive Health Risk Assessment Process of Trace Elements in Different Parts of the Saffron Plant (Crocus Sativus L.): From Soil to Stigma Publisher



Sani MA ; Shariatifar N ; Arabameri M ; Khezerlou A
Source: AIMS Agriculture and Food Published:2026

Abstract

Saffron (Crocus Sativus L.), particularly its stigma, is a valuable global spice and medicinal plant. However, understanding the comprehensive process of trace element uptake and accumulation across all its plant parts, from soil to stigma, is crucial for ensuring food safety and assessing potential health risks. This study aimed to conduct a detailed health risk assessment of trace elements in different components of the saffron plant (stigma, leaves, petals, corms, stems), alongside and analysis of cultivation soil and irrigation water (total samples = 70). The investigation focused on quantifying element concentrations, evaluating their translocation dynamics within the plant, and assessing the associated human health risks through dietary exposure. Analysis using the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) method revealed accumulation of iron (Fe, mean 1.46 mg/kg) and aluminum (Al, mean 29.73 mg/kg) in the edible stigma, followed by zinc (Zn, 0.55 mg/kg), manganese (Mn, 0.18 mg/kg), and copper (Cu, 0.11 mg/kg). The saffron cultivation soil exhibited very high concentrations of Al (273.60 mg/kg) and Fe (275.83 mg/kg), suggesting high bioavailability and transfer to the plant tissues. Importantly, toxic metals, such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr), were found to be well below established safety thresholds in all analyzed plant parts. A heatmap approach provided detailed sample clustering, illustrating element distribution patterns. Furthermore, Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) for health risk assessment demonstrated that the calculated target hazard quotient (THQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values for toxic metal exposure via saffron consumption were significantly below safety limits. Both adult and child populations showed negligible non-carcinogenic risk (THQ < 1) and acceptable carcinogenic risk levels (ILCR < 10-6), indicating minimal health concerns from dietary intake of saffron under the studied conditions. This research presents a comprehensive multi‑tissue assessment of essential and toxic metals in saffron, integrating data from plant tissues, soil, and irrigation water. It clarifies how trace elements move toward the edible stigma, providing key evidence for quality control and safety evaluation. The findings contribute to (i) establishing safety baselines for regulatory and quality standards, (ii) informing agricultural practices by revealing metal uptake mechanisms, and (iii) assessing consumer health risks through dietary exposure analysis. By covering the entire pathway from soil to stigma and applying advanced risk‑assessment tools (THQ, ILCR, MCS), this study forms a solid foundation for future research on element management in saffron cultivation and offers valuable insights for food safety and agricultural science. © 2026 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)