Assessment of Some Heavy Metals present in ‘Banana (Musa acuminata), Mango (Mangifera indica) and Orange (Citrus sinensis)’ fruits sold in Offa Metropolis of Kwara State, Nigeria.

Authors: OKUNLOLA, Samuel Akinola, FOWOMOLA, Moshood Abiodun, IBITOMI, Oluyemi Olasumbo, and ABDULLAHI, Salaudeen Yahaya (Department of Biochemical and Chemical Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State).

Journal: Nigerian Journal Of Technical Education | Volume: 24 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 30 -52

Keywords:banana, mango, orange, heavy metals

Abstract

Some heavy metal contents of ‘banana (Musa acuminata), mango (Mangifera indica) and orange (Citrus sinensis)’ fruits hawking in Offa Metropolis were investigated using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results of the analysis shows that cadmium was not detected in the banana, but a value of 0.009ppm was recorded for the mango and 0.019ppm for the orange samples analyzed respectively. While chromium was not detected in the mango sample, values of 0.001ppm were recorded in the banana and orange samples each. Increasing values of 0.001ppm, 0.002ppm and 0.008ppm concentrations of lead were recorded in the banana, orange and mango samples respectively. Nickel was not detected in the mango sample, but values of 0.001ppm and 0.010ppm were recorded in the orange and banana samples respectively. All the values of heavy metals detected were below WHO maximum permissible limits for their dietary consumption, rendering them safe for human consumption in the area concerned.