Heavy Metals Contamination and Physicochemical Properties of Nono Sold in Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume VI, Issue XII, December 2021 | ISSN 2454–6194

Heavy Metals Contamination and Physicochemical Properties of Nono Sold in Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria

Kabiru, Adamu Y.¹, Gwarjiko, Idris U.^{2 *
1}Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
²Assi College of Health Sciences and Technology, Madalla, Nigeria

Abstract – Dairy products such as Nono can be contaminated by heavy metals through exposure of lactating cows to pollution or consumption of feed and water with toxicants. Nono may also be exposed to toxicants during the processes of production and marketing. Nono samples were bought from hawkers around three locations, Zungeru, Wushishi and Gwarjiko, in Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. The Nono samples were wet digested and the concentrations of Lead (Pb), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe) and Zinc (Zn) were determined by the Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometeric technique. Percentage lactic acid, pH, total soluble sugar, % moisture content and % total solid were also determined using standard methods. The mean concentrations of Pb, Mg, Mn, Fe, and Zn were found to range from 0.756 – 0.769 mg/L, 0.379 – 0.390 mg/L, 0.351 – 0.354 mg/L, 1.075 – 1.080 mg/L and 0.234 – 0.389 mg/L respectively. The pH, titratable acidity (expressed as % lactic acid), total soluble sugar, % moisture content and % total solids were 3.85 – 4.06, 0.04 – 0.16%, 5.67 – 5.73, 8.08 – 8.30% and 91.70 – 91.92% respectively. There was no statistical difference between the means when compared at p≤0.05, but the concentrations of lead, manganese and iron were found to be above the permissible levels while the pH was slightly lower than the acceptable limit. Continuous monitoring of cattle water and feed, and use of appropriate containers in transit of raw milk and (finished) Nono are necessary so as to safeguard milk products from pollution.

Keywords – Nono, Milk, Heavy metals, Physicochemical properties, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

I. INTRODUCTION

Heavy metals are major environmental pollutants and continue to pose serious environmental and health hazards. They are released into the environment from natural as well as man-made activities. Some heavy metals are essential to maintain proper metabolic activity in living organisms [1, 2].
Zinc (Zn) is useful in cell replication and gene expression, in nucleic acid and amino acid metabolism, vitamins A and E metabolism and bioavailability and normal testicular development among others [3, 4].

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