ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS IN FIVE DIFFERENT BABY FOODS
ABSTRACT
A number of five different samples of baby foods were analysedusing an Atomic Absorption Spectromerfor the presence of Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, and As. All the results were compared with the data from their label and proposed guideline published by WHO in 2013 ( see Table 4.1.2)Pb and As were not detected. The five samples, A to E contain the highest amount of Cu (141.6, 174.0, 207.7, 136.9, 132.0mg/kg) respectively, which is a traced element and it is within the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake of 50 to 500mg/kg set by WHO. Cr was only detected in only three samples, A B and C (6.4,6.3,10.0mg/kg) respectively, and it below the provisional tolerable monthly intake of 25mg/kg set by WHO . Cd was detected in all the five samples A, B,C,D,E ( 3.9,3.2,2.2,3.0,4.9mg/kg) respectively and it is below the provisional tolerable monthly intake of 25mg/kg set by WHO. The result of this study shows that baby food products samples sourced from Eke-Awka market are adequate in essential elements of copper, and toxic heavy elements of Cd and Cr are within safety limits permissible by WHO. Pb and As which are very toxic were not detected at all.
