Monitoring and Safety Assessment of the Presence of Heavy Metals and Organic Pollutants in Vended Street Foods from Selected Locations in Lagos State Nigeria

Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating the presence of heavy metals and volatile organic pollutants in street-vended foods sourced from three selected locations in Lagos State, Nigeria, to ascertain their safety level. Food toxicity results from contamination of foods with heavy metals, its bioaccumulation and biomagnifications in the food chain. The study was carried out using complete randomization design and Cluster sampling technique to source vended street foods from three locations (Marina, Yaba and Apapa). The eight Food products studied were roasted (plantain, fish, yam, corn), suya meat, meat pie, egg roll and doughnuts. Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Mercury, Iron, Zinc and organic pollutants in Foods and particulate matter in Environment were examined. Heavy metals detected in vended street foods from Marina, Yaba and Apapa Lagos were; iron, copper, lead and zinc, at level ranging from 0.14 mg/kg–2.80 mg/kg, 0.08 mg/kg – 0.27 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/kg – 0.18 mg/kg, and 0.01 mg/kg – 0.04 mg/kg, respectively. Mercury and Cadmium were below detectable limit. Significantly (P 0.05). One major source of pollution for most vended street foods is vehicular emission. All the vended food samples had lead (Pb) content above the CODEX permissible limit of 0.01 mg/kg. The presence of high lead content in Vended Street food is a major source of occupational health hazards. Further work on the comprehensive outdoor air quality and street food quality in Lagos State to serve as a protection to public health and consumer interest is highly recommended.