The presence of heavy metals in coffee is a growing food safety concern, particularly in regions with high consumption, such as Qatar. This study aimed to quantify heavy metal concentrations in commercially available coffee consumed in Qatar and to assess associated dietary exposure and non-carcinogenic health risks. The concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) were determined in coffee samples from major retail outlets, representing key origins (Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, South America, and Yemen) and roasting levels (light, medium, and dark). Analysis was performed using microwave-assisted acid digestion followed by ICP-OES. The results demonstrated that metal concentrations varied significantly with both geographic origin and roasting degree. Manganese (Mn) was the most abundant metal, with the highest concentration observed in dark-roasted South American coffee (30.312 µg/kg), followed by Papua New Guinea (23.714 µg/kg) and Ethiopia (14.170 µg/kg). Copper (Cu) showed consistently elevated levels across roasting conditions, while zinc (Zn) remained moderate. Toxic metals were detected at low concentrations, including Cd (0.177 µg/kg) and Pb (3.829 µg/kg), with Pb and Cd contributing the most to the calculated Hazard Quotients (HQs). Estimated dietary intake (EDI) and Hazard Index (HI) values based on coffee consumption indicated no significant non-carcinogenic risk (HI < 1) for typical intake levels (1–2 cups/day). However, these estimates were derived from total metal concentrations in dry coffee powder and do not account for variability in extraction during brewing. Furthermore, the prominence of Pb and Cd highlights their importance as priority contaminants because of their cumulative and bioaccumulative nature. Overall, the findings suggest that coffee consumed in Qatar represents a relatively low source of heavy metal exposure; however, continued monitoring is warranted. This study provides novel, context-specific data relevant to risk-based food safety monitoring in import-dependent systems and contributes to a better understanding of how origin and processing influence metal contamination in widely consumed beverages.
Al‐Ali et al. (Tue,) studied this question.