Evaluation of Toxicity Potentials of Heavy Metals in Camel Milk from Selected Farms in Yobe State, Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume V, Issue IV, July 2020 | ISSN 2454-6194

 Evaluation of Toxicity Potentials of Heavy Metals in Camel Milk from Selected Farms in Yobe State, Nigeria

  Hassan, U.F.1*, Hassan, H.F.2, Baba, Haruna3, Madaki, A.A.4, Hassan, H.F.5, Ibrahim, Inusa1, Hassan, A.F.6, Muhammed, Sagir7
1Department of Chemistry, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria
2Department of Community Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State, Nigeria
3Department of Chemistry, College of Education, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria
4Department of Human Physiology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria
5Talba Housing Estate Hospital, General Hospital, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria
6Pharmacy Department, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Medical Centre, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria
7Department of Medicine, Alkaleri General Hospital, Bauchi State, Nigeria
* Corresponding Author

Abstract: The consumption of camel milk is gaining popularity due to its medicinal and dietary properties. Camel milk has also become the major requirement of daily diets, particulary among the vulnerable groups like the infants, school going children and the old persons. The concentrations as well as the toxicity potentials of some selected heavy metals were evaluated. The concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cr) in camel milk obtained from four different farms (Gaidam, Waro, Yusari and Yunusari of Yobe State, Nigeria) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric Technique. The levels (ppm) of zinc, iron, copper, cobalt, nickel, lead, cadmium and chromium were respectively found to be in the range of 4.38 (Gaidam farm) to 4.88 (Waro farm), 0.20 (Waro farm) to 0.60 (Gaidam farm), 0.74 (Yunusari farm) to 1.34 (Waro farm), 0.02 (Gaidam and Waro farms) to 0.04 (Yunusari farm), 0.27 (Yunusari farm) to 0.80 (Waro farm), 0.02 (in all the four farms), 0.012 (Gaidam farm) to 0.018 (Yusari farm) and 0.013 (Yunusari farm) to 0.02 (Gaidam and Waro farms). Comparison of the observed values with permissible limits revealed that the values are less than or equal to their corresponding permissible limits. The observed toxicity potentials of all the heavy metals indicated values that are less than 1.00 in all the farms except in Gaidam and Waro farms where their corresponding chromium toxicity potentials are 1.00 in each case. The observed values were subjected to One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test. The variations in the levels of lead, cadmium and chromium were found to be statistically the same (P ≥ 0.05), whilst the variations in the levels of zinc, iron, copper, cobalt and nickel were statistically not the same (P < 0.05). Based on the observed toxicity potentials, it is therefore evident that consumption of camel milk samples from all the farms is safe for human consumption.
Keywords: Camel milk, permissible limits, toxicity potentials, heavy metals, Analysis of Variance and Least Significant Difference.

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