Abstract
Food Safety is of growing concern globally, and more so considering the relatively high proportion of soft drinks in the beverage market worldwide, and its rate of consumption especially amongst the youths. It is essential to evaluate the levels of toxic metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) residues of which when present in soft drinks above the permissible limits could pose serious public health risk. The aim of this present study was to assess the levels of heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cd ,As) and Polycyclic aromatic Hydrocarbons(PAHs) in 16 commercial soft drinks marketed in Awka, using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy(AAS) and Flame Ionization detector (GC-FID), respectively. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessment were performed using the method established by United State Environmental Protection agency(USEPA).The data obtained were compared with the permissible limit set for drinking water by United State Environmental Protection Agency(USEPA),World Health Organization (WHO),Standard Organization of Nigeria(SON) and Federal Environmental Protection Agency(FEPA). The highest mean level of 0.6116 mg/l is related to Pb and the lowest of 0.0028mg/l related to Hg. The mean levels of the metals increased in this order: Hg<As<Cd<Pb. For the PAHs, using Benzo(a)pyrene as the benchmark for other PAHs congeners because of its strong carcinogenic potency, is not detected in this study, and thus pose no health risk. The target hazard quotient (THQ) of Hg in the studied samples is less than 1. Pb levels in75% the studied samples had THQ>1, and thus, pose a health risk. The hazard index, calculated as the combined risk of heavy metal toxicity is greater than unity (HI>1).The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values estimated for Pb, As and Cd in the sample were 6.25%,31.25% and 25% ,respectively, representing higher than acceptable risk value of (10-6 -10-4) . The results raise a concern for the public exposed with respect to As and Cd carcinogenic risk values. Â
Highlights
Metals are widely found in our environment and food sources either naturally, or as a result of human activities such as agricultural practices, Industrial emissions or contamination during manufacture
This study aims at: (1) determining the levels of toxic metals(As,Cd,Hg and Pb) and Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) in 16 samples from four types of commercial soft drinks commonly consumed among Nnamdi Azikiwe University students (2019) by the aid of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy(AAS) and Gas Chromatography with Flame ionization detector(GC-FID),(2) assessing the potential human health risk(both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic), and (3) to compare the concentrations of the metals and PAHs with the permissible limits set by regulatory bodies
From the analysis of results of the levels of the heavy metals observed, the range of the metals follow this order:Pb(0.01472.9653mg/l),Cd(0.011-1.863mg/l),As(0.0012-0.3234mg/l) and Hg(0.0012-0.0060mg/l).Among the four different metals analyzed in the soft drink, the highest mean level was 0.6116 mg/l(Pb) and the lowest was 0.0028mg/l(Hg) (Table 1).The mean levels of the metals increased in this order: Hg
Summary
Metals are widely found in our environment and food sources either naturally, or as a result of human activities such as agricultural practices, Industrial emissions or contamination during manufacture. A key potential source of exposure of metals is processed beverages that are known to contain metals (Magomya et al, 2015).Controlling the amount of heavy metals in commercial soft drink (non-alcoholic beer),cola, juice drink, and energy drink is very essential for consumer safety(Harnack et al.,1999).The accumulation of Pb and Cd in the human body can lead to cancer, kidney disorders, skeletal damage, brain damage ,reproductive failure and poisoning. Soft drinks are non-alcoholic water-based flavored drinks that are optionally sweetened, acidulated and carbonated. They include all beverages which complied with the above definition, and which do not claim to be part of adjacent categories such as fruit juice and nectars, dairy drinks, mineral waters, etc. They include all beverages which complied with the above definition, and which do not claim to be part of adjacent categories such as fruit juice and nectars, dairy drinks, mineral waters, etc. (Mathur et al.,2003).The sweetener may be sugar, high fructose corn syrup, fruit juice, sugar substitute(in the case of diet drinks)(Vaux and Golder,2003).The soft drink are mostly carbonated usually prepared from carbonated syrup containing sugar, flavoring essence, citric acid and a preservative, Sodium Benzoate (Ofori et al.,2013).Benzoic acid is mostly used as a preservative
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