LEVELS OF HEAVY METALS CONCENTRATIONS IN CHOCOLATES FROM BWARI MARKET ABUJA FCT, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Chocolate, Concentrations, Spectrometry, Acid digestion, heavy metalsAbstract
The concentration of some heavy metals in chocolates consumed in Bwari Area Council Abuja F.C.T, Nigeria were determined and the metal concentrations were compared with regulatory standards. Two brands of chocolate were purchased from Bwari market. The concentrations of Ni, Fe, Cu, Cr, and Pb were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The mean concentrations of Ni, Fe, Cu, Cr, and Pb were found to be 0.98 + 0.05, 6.48 + 0.37, 5.01 + 0.03, 4.08+ 0.41, and 0.24 + 0.12 mg/kg respectively and were compared to world health organisation standard (WHO). Estimated daily intake for each metal in the respective samples were also determined, showing that the trends of daily intake of heavy metals in the samples were in the order: Fe>Cu>Cr>Ni>Pb. The findings of the study indicates that the concentrations of the studied brands of chocolate from Bwari market are within the allowable limits hence pose no potential health risk or hazard upon consumption.
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