Concentration of heavy metals in some selected cereals sourced within Kaduna state, Nigeria.

Abstract

Concentrations of heavy metals were assessed in rice, maize, millet, guinea corn and wheat sourced randomly within Kaduna metropolis, Kaduna state, Nigeria. The samples were crushed, sieved, and digested and the samples were then analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The result showed that the concentration of Copper(Cu) in the samples analyzed was 1.58mg/kg, 0.98mg/kg, 5.23mg/kg, 0.90mg/kg, and 2.41mg/kg while Zinc(Zn) was 0.70mg/kg, 2.01mg/kg, 4.51mg/kg, 2.04mg/kg, and 11.32mg/kg, and Iron(Fe) was 8.24mg/kg, 5.99mg/kg, 10.54mg/kg, 18.97mg/kg, and 13.61mg/kg, for rice, maize, millet, guinea corn, and wheat respectively. However, cadmium was not detected in any of the cereal samples. The levels of heavy metals determined in the analyzed cereal samples were found to be below the permissible limit set by FAO/WHO; hence, the concentration of these heavy metals in the selected cereals analyzed, may not presently pose a health hazard in the population and can as well serve as good and dependable sources of essential trace metals to the human population.