International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VII, Issue IV, April 2020 | ISSN 2321–2705

Evaluation of Heavy Metal Contaminations of Selected Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Drinks Sold in Nigeria

Odangowei I. Ogidi, Okiemute Omu, Chiemeziem O. Njoku, Oghenetega Emumejakpor
Department of Biochemistry, Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract – Toxic metals contamination is an important environmental problem that was mainly manifested in the growing industrial cities where the levels in toxic metals exceeded the recommended levels leading to the increase of several health problems varying from memory disorder to carcinogenic diseases. The study was aimed at evaluating heavy metal contamination from selected alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks sold in Nigeria. Ten (10) alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks were purchased in Yenagoa and standard wet digestion procedure was adopted in the sample preparation. Heavy metals were analyzed using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer technique and the results were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The result shows the contamination of heavy metals for non-alcoholic drinks were PBC>PBCM >PBO >PCC >PF while Alcoholic drinks were BH > BL > BE > BS > BB. When compared to WHO standards, the levels of Cd, Ni, Pb were above the permissible limits. These results suggest that both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks sold in Nigeria may be contaminated with heavy metals which constitute a major public health problem. Thus, quality control is recommended during the production process especially at the stages of sterilization and purification.

Keywords – Heavy metal, Alcoholic drink, Non-alcoholic drink, Public health, Toxicity.

I. INTRODUCTION

Heavy metals contamination is a major problem of our environment and they are also one of the major contaminating agents of our food supply [1], [2].The knowledge of metals in foods is essential for calculating the dietary intakes of essential metals and evaluation of human exposure to toxic elements [3]. This problem is receiving more and more attention all over the world, in general and in developing countries in particular. The excessive intake of these toxic heavy metals can lead to several diseases such as organ failure, cancers, retardation of mental development in children and pregnant women [4]. Therefore it is important to monitor the level of such pollutants in the environments especially the foods and drinks consumed [5].Heavy metal composition of foods is of interest because of their essential or toxic nature.