Risk assessment of aluminum, chromium and nickel exposure through ingestion of Arabica and Robusta coffee infusions prepared in aluminum and steel moka pots

Abstract

The study investigates Al, Cr and Ni contents in coffee beans and infusions. The aim was to show the effect of the material from which the moka pot is made on the quality of infusions and assessing the risk connected with increased consumption of these metals based on hazard quotients calculation. Arabica and Robusta coffee samples of different origin (America, Africa, Asia) and type of processing were tested. The highest concentrations of Cr and Ni were obtained using a steel moka pot, 9.8 µg L⁻¹ and 66.8 µg L⁻¹, respectively. Drinking 3 cups of coffee per day brewed in this pot, the consumer will be exposed to a daily dose of 4.75·10⁻⁵ and 3.23·10⁻⁴ mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ of Cr and Ni, respectively. On the other hand, brewing coffee in an aluminum moka pot results in a concentration of Al up to above 1 mg L⁻¹, therefore the migration of this element is significantly higher than that of Cr and Ni. Such a concentration will result in a daily dose of 5.36·10⁻³ mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹. However, the increased concentration of heavy metals due to the use of an aluminum or steel moka pot does not result in exceeding the maximum permissible dose.