Quantification of heavy metal levels in imported rice (Oryza sativa) consumed in the Northern Parts of Nigeria

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/04/2014
Views (401) Download (18)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Quantification of heavy metal levels in imported rice (Oryza sativa) consumed in the Northern Parts of Nigeria

G.T.O. Otitoju, O. Otitoju, C.J. Igwe
J. Bio. Env. Sci.4( 4), 202-207, April 2014.
Certificate: JBES 2014 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

Dietary exposure to heavy metals, namely Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Mercury (Hg), Arsenic(As), has been identified as a risk to human health through the consumption of some major food substances. This study was designed to investigate five (5) heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb) in ten (10) imported rice (Oryza sativa) samples consumed in the Northern parts of Nigeria. The study areas were Kubwa in Abuja (FCT), Jos town in Plateau state, Wukari in Taraba state, Jaba in Kano and Central market in Kaduna town, Kaduna state. The result showed the average mean lead concentration in some imported rice samples to be 0.152mg/kg with variations in different areas which when compared with the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) of heavy metals set by WHO/FAO at 25μ/kg (0.025mg/kg) body weight far exceed the permissible limit for human health. All the rice samples had lead concentrations above the permissible limit except for “Par Excellence Premium Long Grain rice” (0.014mg/kg) produced in USA which is below the permissible limit. “Royal stallion” produced in Thailand had the highest lead concentration of 0.383mg/kg which also when compared with the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) far exceeded the permissible limit. Other heavy metals such as As, Cd, Cr, Hg was undetectable at 0.001mg/kg. Hence, imported rice consumed in the Northern parts of Nigeria may contain toxic levels of heavy metals which should be monitored as it may be deleterious to health.

VIEWS 31

Duruibe JO, Ogwuegbu MOC, Egwurugwu JN. 2007. Heavy Metal Pollution and HumanBiotoxic Effects. International Journal Physical Science 2(5), 112-118.

Apha Awwa. and Wcpf. 1998. (America public Health Association, American Water Works and Water Control Pollution Federation), Standard Methods for Examination of Waste. Water. 15thEdn., APHA, Washington DC.USA, 128.

Babel S, Kurniawan TA. 2004. Cr (VI) removal from synthetic waste water using coconut shell charcoal and commercial activated carbon modified with oxidizing agents and/or Chitosan. Chemosphere 54(7), 951-967.

Cheng F, Zhao N, Xu H, Li Y, Zhang W, Zhu Z, Chen M. 2006. Cadmium and lead contamination in Japonica rice grains and its variation among the different locations in southeast China. Science Total Environment 359, 156–166.

IAEA/UNEP/FAO/IOC. 1984. Determination of Total Cadmium, Zinc, Lead and Copper in Selected Marine Organism by Flameless Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. International Atomic Energy Agency.

Ioan S, Constantin C, Mihai T, Sorana DB, Lorentz J. 2008. Analysis ofsoil heavy metal pollution and pattern in central Transylvania. International Journal of Molecular Science, 9, 434-453

Kinsgsawat R, Roachanakanan R. 2011. Environment and Natural Resources Journal, 9(1)38-48

Lokhande RS, Kelkar N. 1999. Studies on heavy metals in water of Vasai Creek Maharashtra Indian Journal of Environmental Protection. 19, 664-668.

MHPRC (Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China). 2005. The maximum levels of contaminants in foods (GB 2762-2005). Beijing, China: MHPRC (in Chinese).

Otitoju O, Akpanabiatu MI, Otitoju GTO, Ndem JI, Uwah AF. 2012. Heavy Metal Contamination of Green Leafy Vegetable Gardens in Itam Road Construction Site in Uyo, Nigeria. Research Journal of Environment and Earth Sciences 4(4), 371-375.

OtitojuO, Onwurah INE. 2005. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and serum calcium level in Rats exposed to a locally produced insect powder “Rambo”. Animal Research Journal, 2(1) 261-266.

Stohs SJ, Bagchi D. 1994. Oxidative mechanisms in the toxicity of metal ions. Free Radical in Biological Medicine, 18(2), 321-336.

Watanabe T, Nakatsuka H, Ikeda M. 1989. Cadmium and lead contents in rice available in various areas of Asia. Science Total Environment, 80, 175 – 184

WHO. 1995.  Lead  Environmental  Health  Criteria. Vol. 165. Geneva: World Health Organization.

WHO/FAO. 1999. Maximum levels for lead in codex commodity standards.CX/FAC 00/24.Rome.

Xinhua L. 2010. “Drought Threatens Vietnam’s Rice Bowl”. Xinhua News Agency, 2010-03-25.Retrieved 2010-06-19.

Zukowska J, Biziuk M. 2008. Methodological evaluation of method for dietary heavy metal intake. Journal of Food Science. 73(2) R 21-R29.