Abstract
Levels of nickel, zinc, arsenic, copper, lead, cadmium, chromium, iron, mercury and selenium were determined in mango (Magnifera indica), cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and pawpaw (Carica papaya) sold in Modern Market (Central Market) of Lafia City, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The study also assessed the potential health risks from the consumption of these fruits. The samples were randomly collected at two different times for one month interval, processed and analyzed for heavy metals using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The result showed that the mean metal concentrations recorded for mango, cucumber and pawpaw in the decreasing order were: Cd < As < Pb < Cr < Hg < Se < Ni < Zn < Cu < Fe, Cd < As < Hg < Pb < Cr < Se < Ni < Cu < Zn< Fe and Hg < Ni < Cd < As < Pb < Cr < Se < Zn < Cu < Fe, respectively. Generally, the highest mean metal concentration in all the fruit samples was Fe. The average daily intake (ADI) values indicate that all the heavy metals in the fruit samples are below the permissible limits as endorsed by WHO/FAO. Also, hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard indices (HI) values do not exceed unity. Therefore, none of the fruit samples under investigation poses any health risks to the consumers as their HI was less than 1.
Highlights
Heavy metals are generally referred to as metals and metalloids having densities greater than 5 g cm–3 [1]
The mean metal concentrations recorded for mango are in the decreasing order of Cd < As < Pb < Cr < Hg < Se < Ni < Zn < Cu < Fe
The mean metal concentrations recorded for mango are in the decreasing order of Cd < As < Hg < Pb < Cr < Se < Ni < Cu < Zn< Fe
Summary
Heavy metals are generally referred to as metals and metalloids having densities greater than 5 g cm–3 [1]. Heavy metals are harmful because of their nonbiodegradable in nature, long biological half-lives, and potential to accumulate in the body. Prolonged consumption of unsafe concentrations of heavy metals through foodstuffs may lead to the chronic accumulation of heavy metals in the kidney and liver of humans, disrupting numerous biochemical processes and leading to cardiovascular, nervous, kidney and bone diseases [2, 3]. Some heavy metals, such as Cd, Cr, and Pb, are nonessential and can cause adverse human health effects [4]. Heavy metals are the main contaminants of food supply as they are considered a vital concern in food safety and quality assurance and can be regarded as a major problem in the environment (soil, water, air) [5, 6]
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