Volume 9, Issue 10, January - June, 2025

Levels of heavy metals concentrations in chocolates from Bwari market Abuja FCT, Nigeria

Emmanuel Joy Enogbe, Agbaghare Daniel Enajeme

Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Veritas University Abuja, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The concentration of some heavy metals in chocolates consumed in Bwari Area Council Abuja F.C.T, Nigeria were determined and the metal concentrations were compared with regulatory standards. Two brands of chocolate were purchased from Bwari market. The concentrations of Ni, Fe, Cu, Cr, and Pb were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The mean concentrations of Ni, Fe, Cu, Cr, and Pb were found to be 0.98 + 0.05, 6.48 + 0.37, 5.01 + 0.03, 4.08+ 0.41, and 0.24 + 0.12 mg/kg respectively and were compared to world health organisation standard (WHO). Estimated daily intake for each metal in the respective samples were also determined, showing that the trends of daily intake of heavy metals in the samples were in the order: Fe>Cu>Cr>Ni>Pb. The findings of the study indicates that the concentrations of the studied brands of chocolate from Bwari market are within the allowable limits hence pose no potential health risk or hazard upon consumption.

Keywords: Chocolate, Concentrations, Spectrometry, Acid digestion, heavy metals

International journal of adulteration, 2025; 9(10): e2ijad3057

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v9i10.e2ijad3057

Published: 09 April 2025