Open AccessSafety Assessment of the Presence of Heavy Metals and Organic Pollutants in Vended Street Foods from Selected Locations in Lagos State Nigeria
Author(s) -
G. I. Oyet,
Chibor Bariwere Samuel
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of nutrition and food safety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2347-5641
DOI - 10.9734/ejnfs/2020/v12i630251
Subject(s) - cadmium , mercury (programming language) , chemistry , pollutant , zinc , environmental chemistry , food science , toxicology , zoology , biology , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
This study was aimed at investigating the presence of heavy metals and volatile organic pollutants in street-vended foods sourced from three selected locations in Lagos State, Nigeria, to ascertain their safety level. The study was carried out using complete randomization design and Cluster sampling technique to source vended street foods from three locations (Marina, Yaba and Apapa). The eight Food products studied were roasted (plantain, fish, yam, corn), suya meat, meat pie, egg roll and doughnuts. Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Mercury, Iron, Zinc and organic pollutants in Foods and particulate matter in Environment were examined. Heavy metals detected in vended street foods from Marina, Yaba and Apapa Lagos were; iron, copper, lead and zinc, at level ranging from 0.14 mg/kg–2.80 mg/kg, 0.08 mg/kg – 0.27 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/kg – 0.18 mg/kg, and 0.01 mg/kg – 0.04 mg/kg, respectively. Mercury and Cadmium were below detectable limit. Significantly (P 0.05). All the vended food samples had lead (Pb) content above the CODEX permissible limit of 0.01 mg/kg. The presence of high lead content in Vended Street food is a major source of occupational health hazards.