Title of Article Determination of Heavy Metals in Selected Food Products

Authors Annabelle A. Ribo, Neizel C. Dacua, Jamaica C. Paragas and Karen Jill L. Yu
Source
The Banquet Name of Journal/pages

Year Published
Abstract In the Philippines, the obvious signs of a highly toxic environment can already be
found in the air being inhaled, the water being drunk and even in the food being eaten.
This study intended to determine the levels of cadmium, lead and mercury of three
selected brands of apple juice, dark chocolate and fresh milk using Atomic
Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) with model Perkin Elmer PinAAcle 900 F.
Analysis showed that the concentration levels from highest to lowest in terms of
cadmium (Cd) were observed in apple juice, fresh milk and dark chocolate,
respectively. For lead (Pb), the highest level was observed in fresh milk samples and
this was followed by apple juice and dark chocolate. Lastly, the level of mercury (Hg)
for the three selected food samples was shown to be the method limit of detection at
<0.001ppm. Results further revealed that Cd, Pb, and Hg concentrations in food
samples were within the tolerable limits indicating that the products are acceptable for
human consumption. One-Way Analysis of Variance result showed that there was no
significant difference on the level of Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury among the three
food samples tested. This could imply that the contamination might have been due to
the processing of the products and not on the raw materials used.

Objective of Specifically, this investigation sought the answers to the following questions:
Study 1) What are the levels of cadmium, lead and mercury contents in the three (3)
available selected brands of apple juices, dark chocolates and fresh milks found in the
market?
2) Are the levels of heavy metals in apple juices, dark chocolates and fresh milks
selected within the tolerable limits specified by the Food and Drugs Administration?
3) Are there significant differences in the levels of heavy metal contents among the
three selected brands of apple juices, dark chocolates and fresh milks?

Methodology Preparation of the Sample Solution for the Determination of Cadmium and Lead
10g of dark chocolate was weighed. The measured amount was dissolved in 100mL
water in a 125mL Erlenmeyer flask. Then, 5mL concentrated nitric acid was added in
this mixture. Digestion process was performed in the hood until 15-20mL mixture
was left. The final step was to filter 15-25mL using #1 Whatman filter paper which
would be diluted to 25mL volumetric flask. Since the apple juice and fresh milk were
liquids, 100mL of each product was measured. The same procedure with the dark
chocolate was used for the other samples. Outline of the Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotomer Procedure for Cd and Pb determination is available in standard
Analytical Chemistry textbook.

Preparation of the Sample Solution for Mercury Determination

Ten grams (10g) of dark chocolate was dissolved in 100 mL water at the Erlenmeyer
flask. A 5mL sulfuric acid was then added. Next, 2.5mL nitric acid was included to
the solution. A 15mL of 5% potassium permanganate was added and was left to stand
 for 15 minutes. Then, 8 mL of potassium thiosulfate was added and digested and
cooled for 2 hours. Since the apple juice and fresh milk were liquids, 100 mL of each
product was measured. Same procedure with the dark chocolate was conducted for the
remaining samples. Outline of the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotomer Procedure for
Hg determination is available in standard Analytical Chemistry textbook.

Procedure in Conducting Atomic Absorption

The overall procedure for Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry is available in

standard Analytical Chemistry textbook.
Statistical Treatment of Data
Inferential analysis specifically, One-Way Analysis of Variance was used as the
statistical tool to determine if there was a significant difference on the level of heavy
metals among the food samples tested.

Results Results of the analysis showed that the highest concentrations of Cd was observed in
apple juice sample followed by fresh milk and dark chocolates, whereas the minimum
concentrations obtained was <0.01 ppm for all samples. The median concentrations
were 0.084, 0.064 and 0.148ppm for apple juice, dark chocolates and fresh milk,
respectively.
These findings clearly indicated that Cd is present in the food products tested which
could have adverse health implications if not resolved.
According to Johnson, B.T. (1997), cadmium is taken up through the roots of plants
and accumulates in edible leaves, fruits and seeds grown in certain geological areas
where the soil is rich in cadmium. It will also build up in animal milk and fatty
tissues. It is relatively poorly absorbed into the body so it accumulates in the kidney
causing renal damage. Cadmium has also been associated with lung damage
(including induction of lung tumors) and skeletal changes in occupationally exposed
populations.

On the other hand, among the samples tested, the maximum concentration for lead
was observed in fresh milk samples followed by apple juice. Dark chocolates had the
least concentration of Pb at a concentration of <0.01ppm. Accordingly, food can
contain lead if lead-containing dust gets onto crops while they are growing or during
food processing. Lead may also get into food through food containers. It has been
shown to cause a deleterious effect on brain and intellectual development in young
children, while long-term exposure in both children and adults can cause damage to
the kidneys, reproductive and immune systems in addition to effects on the nervous
system that results to neurological disorders, reproductive problems, diminished
intelligence and a host of other ills (Johnson, 1997).
Moreover, the levels of mercury for the three selected food samples were <0.001 ppm
indicating minimal levels in the tested food products. Mercury may pollute food
products via air, water, soil, and even during the process of packing thus standard
precautions must be taken during preparation and transport. According to United
States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), methyl mercury can cause
impaired neurological development. Likewise, it can also adversely affect a baby’s
growing brain and nervous system. Impacts on cognitive thinking, memory, attention,
language, and fine motor and visual spatial skills have been seen in children exposed
to this substance (USEPA, 2012). Organic forms of mercury can cross the placental
barrier between the mother and the unborn baby, and epidemiological studies in
exposed populations of humans and toxicological studies in animals have shown that
 this can result in a range of neurological disturbances from impaired learning to
obvious brain damage.

Data show that the amount of heavy metals present in these products do not pose
immediate threat to the health of consuming public since the results conform to the
tolerable limits for cadmium, lead and mercury as specified by European
Pharmacopeia (2011). For Cd, the limit is <1.0ppm and the amount detected for apple
juice was 0.1ppm, 0.07ppm for the dark chocolates and 0.20ppm for fresh milk. For
lead, the maximum limit is <5.0ppm. The results of the test for lead content show
0.43ppm for apple juice, 0.01ppm for dark chocolates and 0.70ppm for fresh milk.
Lastly, all product samples have a mercury content of <0.001ppm and the maximum
tolerable limit for mercury is <0.1ppm. All tested food products was found to be
lower than the maximum allowable concentration of each test metal. However,
continuous consumption of food products tainted with heavy metal contamination
may pose health threats due to bioaccumulation. As such, government authorities
need to find solution on how to totally eliminate contamination of heavy metals in
food products sold in the market.
Results of the statistical computation revealed that there is no existing significant
difference (p>0.05) on the level of Cd and Pb on the three food samples tested. This
means that the level of heavy metals on the three products do not vary significantly
among each other. This could imply that contamination may have been due to the
processing of the products rather on the source of raw materials. As such, standard
precautions to maintain Good Manufacturing practice must be adhered by companies
to ensure less contamination. Further, containers of the finished products must also be
tested to ensure that its not contaminated with heavy metals. Note however, the
inferential analysis was not conducted for the level of mercury since the obtained
concentration is less than the method’s limit of detection.
Conclusion The maximum amount of cadmium metal was found in apple juices followed by fresh
milk then dark chocolates. Maximum lead content was revealed in the fresh milk
followed by apple juice and minimum amount was in dark chocolate. Whereas, level
of mercury for the three selected food samples was the method limit of detection.
Selected brands of apple juice, dark chocolate and fresh milk conformed to the
maximum tolerable limit of cadmium, lead and mercury. There was no existing
significant difference (p>0.05) on the level of Cd, Pb and Hg on the three food
samples tested. Further testing and study should be taken in the future in another set
of the same brand of apple juice, dark chocolates and fresh milk to ensure that there
is no significant difference between the levels of heavy metals in each product
Recommendati The future researchers can resort in conducting another test on the containers,
on wrappers or bottles of the selected food products to account for their levels of
contamination. This is one way to find out what is primarily causing the heavy metal
contamination. Further, future investigators should conduct another test for another
heavy metal such as arsenic as it is also a heavy metal contaminant.

Over all The researchers conducted a very nice analysis in the article, however their subjects
Remarks such as fresh milk, apple juice and Dark chocolate is not really a must haves when a
person is a buying supplies. The researchers should have focus more on foods that is
often bought by the consumers such as instant foods. Like canned sardines, tuna and
also the fruits that can be bought in can like canned pineapple. Or they can even test
raw foods from the supermarket to test if those are really fresh or if those products
contains chemicals that can possibly be eaten by the consumer. Also the article
created an awareness that food products such as dark chocolate, fresh milk and apple
 juice contains chemicals, what more chemicals can they found from other food
products that we are consuming. It gives an impression that not all food products that
you buy in the mall is safe and healthy, if they can found chemicals in those three
products, that means it is possible for us to find more in other food products that are
not tested. All in all the article gives us an insight about the security and quality of the
foods that the consumer buy in any place.
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Ribo, A. A., Dacua, N. C., Paragas, J. C. & Yu, K. L.. (2014). Determination of
Heavy Metals in Selected Food Products. The Banquet, 1(1). Retrieved from
http://ejournals.ph/form/cite.php?id=13226