scholarly journals Preliminary Study on Heavy Metals in Coconut and Coconut Products

CORD ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Warsakoon, W.M.M.P.D.K.

Coconut is one of the major plantation crops which plays a pivotal role in the economy of Sri Lanka. The objective of this study is to investigate the presence of heavy metals in fresh coconut kernel and in some coconut products in Sri Lanka. Levels of lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Aluminum (Al), Ferrous (Fe), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), and Arsenic (As) were determined in samples of fresh coconut kernel, coconut milk, coconut milk powder, and coconut cream using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) method. Fresh coconut kernel and coconut products were found to contain Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn. Fresh coconut kernels showed the highest content of these metals. Coconut cream and coconut milk samples demonstrated the lowest levels of these metals. Potentially toxic heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, As, and Al were not detected in the tested samples. The occurrence of the heavy metals in all the coconut products tested was below the permissible levels suggested by the USDA, World Health Organization, and the Quality Standards of CODEX Vol. 1 Section 6, 1991.

Author(s):  
G. L. Gomah ◽  
R.B. Voegborlo ◽  
R. S. Ngumbu

Human activities such as agriculture, mining, urbanization and waste disposal can lead to heavy metals contamination of food crops, including rice meant for human consumption. In an effort to ensure quality and safe food consumption, this study determined the levels of toxic heavy metals, Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg) and Nickel (Ni) in rice brands widely consumed in Liberia. Hg was determined by AAS technique using a Lumex RA-915M portable Zeeman Automatic Mercury Analyzer. As, Cd, Cr, Pb and Ni were determined by ICP-MS technique using an Agilent 7900 ICP-MS. The levels of As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg and Ni concentrations ranged from 1.1 to 18.1, 4.8 to 117.9, 50 to 424.5, 1.1 to 37.1, 1.1 to 9.4 and 15.1 to 655.2 µg/kg respectively. The study revealed no significant statistical variability in the metal concentrations between the locally cultivated and imported rice, except for As (P = 0.002). The levels of As, Cd, Pb and Hg in all brands were below the World Health Organization/Food and Agricultural Organization guideline values. Cr and Ni levels were also below the European Commission Guidelines for all rice brands analyzed. The results imply that although the rice brands analyzed contain low heavy metal concentrations, the levels are unlikely to cause adverse health effects to the consuming populace.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1223-1227
Author(s):  
M.A. Akpe ◽  
R.C. Anozie ◽  
F.P. Inezi

This study is evaluated the concentration of some toxic heavy metals present in selected cosmetics sold and used in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeriausing aFlame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), VGP 210 (BUCK Scientific) Model. The result revealed that the average  concentration of the metals in mg/L ranged thus: Cadmium (0.012- 0.046), Chromium (0.002- 0.022), Lead (0.004- 0.024) and Nickel (0.140- 0.416). The concentration of Arsenic and Mercury was not detected, and were considered string variables in this study. From the results, the concentration of the metals detected were within the permissible limit of the World Health Organization (WHO) except Cadmium that was slightly above the WHO limit in one of the samples with a value of 0.046 mg/L. These results indicate that the selected cosmetics used in Calabar contains low amounts of the heavy metals analyzed in this study and may not pose any health risk for now, except that the accumulation of such little amounts over timedue to prolonged use of these cosmetics may cause harm. Keywords: Concentration, Heavy metals, Cosmetics, Calabar


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 239784732098525
Author(s):  
Keneth Iceland Kasozi ◽  
Eric Oloya Otim ◽  
Herbert Izo Ninsiima ◽  
Gerald Zirintunda ◽  
Andrew Tamale ◽  
...  

Background: Environmental contamination with elevated levels of copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr6+), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni)—all states of which are found in Uganda—raises health risk to the public. Pb, Cr6+, Cd, and Ni for instance are generally considered nonessential to cellular functions, notwithstanding the importance of the oxidative state of the metals in bioavailability. As such, we aimed in this study (i) to evaluate heavy metal concentrations in four vegetables from a typical open-air market in Uganda, (ii) to assess the safety of consuming these vegetables against the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits of heavy metals consumption, and (iii) to formulate a model of estimated daily intake (EDI) among consumers in the country. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in five georeferenced markets of Bushenyi district in January 2020. Amaranthus, cabbages, scarlet eggplants, and tomatoes were collected from open markets, processed, and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Modeled EDI, principal component (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were conducted to identify relationships in the samples. Results: The levels of essential elements in the four vegetables were found to fall from Co > Cu > Fe > Zn. Those of non-essential metals were significantly higher and followed the pattern Cd > Cr > Pb > Ni. The highest EDI values were those of Cu in scarlet eggplants, Zn in amaranthus, Fe in amaranthus, Co in amaranthus, Pb in cabbages, total Cr in scarlet eggplant, Cd in cabbages and tomatoes, and Ni in cabbages. In comparison to international limits, EDIs for Zn, Cu, Co and Fe were low while Ni in cabbages were high. PCA showed high variations in scarlet eggplant and amaranthus. The study vegetables were found to be related with each other, not according to the location of the markets from where they were obtained, but according to their species by CA. Conclusion: The presence of non-essential elements above WHO limits raises policy challenges for the consumption and marketing of vegetables in the study area. Furthermore, low EDIs of essential elements in the vegetables create demand for nutritious foods to promote healthy communities.


Author(s):  
Kumar Abhishek ◽  
M. P Singh ◽  
Md. Sadik Hussain

<p>Tuberculosis (TB) has been one of the top ten causes of death in the world. As per the World Health Organization (WHO) around 1.8 million people have died due to tuberculosis in 2015. This paper aims to investigate the spatial and temporal variations in TB incident in South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri-Lanka). Asia had been counted for the largest number of new TB cases in 2015. The paper underlines and relates the relationship between various features like gender, age, location, occurrence, and mortality due to TB in these countries for the period 1993-2012.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hawraz Sami Khalid ◽  
Hoshyar Saadi Ali ◽  
Dhary Almashhadany

The present study was conducted to evaluate the quality of drinking water in randomly selected schools in Erbil city, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The water quality indices such as the Heavy metal Pollution Index (HPI) and Heavy metal Evaluation Index (HEI) were applied to characterize water quality. Eighteen schools were incorporated and sampled for their water storage tanks available to students. Water samples and sediment samples from tanks floor were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer for the determination of twenty-two metal elements. In drinking water samples, all detected metals did not exceed the permissible limits of the World Health Organization. The results of this study showed that the average values of HPI and HEI for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn were 54.442 and 0.221, respectively. According to data of the water quality indices, the schools drinking water quality are good and suitable for drinking in terms of heavy metals. However, sediments samples contained high concentrations of all elements including the toxic heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, and Pb). Re-suspension of sediments into water column after refilling storage tanks can pose a serious threat to students drinking water from such vessels. It is therefore recommended that proper storage tanks are provided to the schools accompanied by continuous sanitation and hygiene practice to mitigate the corrosion of tanks to avoid health risks of toxic metal


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunanda Kodikara ◽  
Hossein Tiemoory ◽  
Mangala Chathura De Silva ◽  
Pathmasiri Ranasinghe ◽  
Sudarshana Somasiri ◽  
...  

Abstract Heavy metal (HM) pollution has become a serious threat to coastal aquatic ecosystems. This study, therefore, aimed at assessing the spatial distribution of selected heavy metals/metalloids including Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), and Mercury (Hg) in surface sediment (0–15 cm) samples collected across Kalametiya Lagoon in southern Sri Lanka. Forty-one (41) grid points of the lagoon were sampled and the sediment samples were analyzed for HM content by using ICP-MS. A questionnaire survey was carried out to investigate the possible sources for HM pollution in Kalametiya Lagoon. Water pH and salinity showed significant variation across the lagoon. Overall mean value of pH and salinity were 6.68 ± 0.17 and 2.9 ± 2.2 PSU respectively. The spatial distribution of the heavy metals was not monotonic and showed a highly spatial variation. The kernel density maps of the measured heavy metals demarcated several different areas of the lagoon. The mean contents of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb were lower than that of threshold effect level (TEL) however, higher for Hg at the North Inlet. Nevertheless, it was still lower than potential effect level (PEL). Socio-economic interactions have dramatically reduced during the past two decades. Industrial sewage, river suspended sediments and agrochemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides were reportedly identified as the possible sources for heavy metal loads. Accumulation of toxic heavy metals can be minimized by detouring the water inflow to the lagoon.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-95
Author(s):  
David Okechukwu Okeke ◽  
◽  
Jonathan Chinenye Ifemeje ◽  

The level of heavy metals (Fe, Cu, As, Pb, Cd, Mg, Ca, Hg, Ni, Cr, Zn, Ag, Co, Mo, Se and Al) in soils and food crops (okra, cassava and rice) cultivated within selected mining sites in Ebonyi State, Nigeria were determined using FS240AA Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) according to the method of American Public Health Association (APHA). Soil samples were collected from Enyigba mining site, Ikwo mining site, AmeriAmekamining site, Izza mining site, MkpumeAkwatakwa mining site and MpumeAkwaokuku mining site while the food crop samples (okra, cassava and rice) were collected from the farmlands within the mining sites. Control samples were collected 500m away from the mining destinations were there was no evidence of mining activities on the soils. A total of sixty sub-samples and six control soil samples were collected for this study. Generally, the values of all the heavy metals analyzed for soil and food crop samples were higher than the values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), and those from the control site suggesting possible mobility of the metals from mining sites to farmlands through leaching and runoffs. The findings in this study also revealed that the food crops contain heavy metals exceeding the maximum permissible concentration, and could be detrimental to human health when they are consumed.


1987 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 51-58
Author(s):  
Horas Hutagalung ◽  
Suwirma Syamsu

Determination of  heavy  metal  content  (Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Zn) in some seafoods collected from  Muara  Angke  Fish  Auction  Place  were carried out during February to July 1979. The results showed  that Zn  content  in seafoods a nalyzed  was always much higher than the other heavy metals. The concentration levels of  the  six  heavy  metals observed were low. It is almost of the same level as the metal concentration of  other  seafoods  observed  in various parts of the world oceans, but still lower  than the maximum standard set  for human  consumption  as  established  by   Tasmania, Australia and  World Health Organization. The  mean  per capita  consumption of  fish  in Jakarta is only  about 165 g  per week, while  the  Provisional Tolerated Weekly Intake for Hg, set by WHO/FAO at 300 ug level, would be attained by consuming 1500 g Rastrelliger sp., or 698 gPenaeus setiferus, or 545 g Sepia sp., and or 1250 g Pecten sp.  Therefore,  at   present the  level of metal content in fishes sold at TPI  Muara  Angke  can be  considered  as  not  dangerous  to human health as long as these quantities are not surpassed.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 276-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olcay Kaplan ◽  
Nuran Cikcikoglu Yildirim ◽  
Numan Yildirim ◽  
Nilgun Tayhan

The drinking water quality is associated with the conditions of the water supply networks, the pollution and the contamination of groundwater with pollutants of both anthropogenic and natural origin. In this study, water samples were taken from four different waterworks in Tunceli, Turkey and heavy metals concentrations (As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni and Hg) were measured. Four sampling sites were pre-defined in different locations of the city. The obtained results showed that, the heavy metals concentrations in water samples did not exceed the values of WHO (World Health Organization), EC (Europe Community), EPA (Environment Protection Agency) and TSE-266 (Turkish Standard) guidelines.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasad Ranaweera ◽  
Rajitha Wickremasinghe ◽  
Kamini Mendis

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on other health programmes in countries, including on malaria, and is currently under much discussion. As many countries are accelerating efforts to eliminate malaria or to prevent the re-establishment of malaria from recently eliminated countries, the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to cause major interruptions to ongoing anti-malaria operations and risk jeopardizing the gains that have been made so far. Sri Lanka, having eliminated malaria in 2012, was certified by the World Health Organization as a malaria-free country in 2016 and now implements a rigorous programme to prevent its re-establishment owing to the high receptivity and vulnerability of the country to malaria. Sri Lanka has also dealt with the COVID-19 epidemic quite successfully limiting the cumulative number of infections and deaths through co-ordinated efforts between the health sector and other relevant sectors, namely the military, the Police Department, Departments of Airport and Aviation and Foreign Affairs, all of which have been deployed for the COVID-19 epidemic under the umbrella of a Presidential Task Force. The relevance of imported infections and the need for a multi-sectoral response are features common to both the control of the COVID-19 epidemic and the Prevention of Re-establishment (POR) programme for malaria. Sri Lanka’s malaria POR programme has, therefore, creatively integrated its activities with those of the COVID-19 control programme. Through highly coordinated operations the return to the country of Sri Lankan nationals stranded overseas by the COVID-19 pandemic, many from malaria endemic countries, are being monitored for malaria as well as COVID-19 in an integrated case surveillance system under quarantine conditions, to the success of both programmes. Twenty-three imported malaria cases were detected from February to October through 2773 microscopic blood examinations performed for malaria in quarantine centres, this number being not much different to the incidence of imported malaria during the same period last year. This experience highlights the importance of integrated case surveillance and the need for a highly coordinated multi-sectoral approach in dealing with emerging new infections. It also suggests that synergies between the COVID-19 epidemic control programme and other health programmes may be found and developed to the advantage of both.


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