The Effects of Processing On Heavy Metals Concentrations and Health Risk Assessment in African Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus Phoenicis) Larvae

This study investigated the concentrations of the heavy metals, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and Co in a raw and processed (boiled and fried) Rhynchophorus phoenicis larvae. The concentrations of the metals were measured using Thermal-Elemental Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS) S4-710-a6 model. The concentrations (mg/kg dry weight bases) of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and Co in raw, boiled and fried samples were; raw (10.23+0.08), (15.06+0.09), (5.19+0.01), (2.75+0.05) (1.75+0.12), boiled (7.24+0.19), (9.50+0.07), (4.11+0.09), (1.85+0.07), (2.00+0.00), and fried (6.25+0.06) (5.36+0.11), (3.31+0.04), (1.47+0.09), (2.88+0.07); respectively. The results showed a decreased order of Zn>Fe>Cu>Mn>Co in the raw sample, while the boiled and fried samples were in the order of Zn>Fe>Cu>Co>Mn. Generally, the observed trends were that the processing (boiling and frying) reduces the concentration of the metals except for Co where the highest concentration was found in the fried sample. The results of the non-carcinogenetic risk assessment were less than 1, which signifies no health concern at the moment. However, considering the toxicity and bioaccumulative nature of these metals, the frying practice is advocated, since it caused a significant decreased in most of the metals studied.