Abstract
Background: Current dietary recommendations seek to promote the consumption of fruits and vegetables due to the beneficial effects of the micronutrients and phytochemicals present in them. They are promoted as foods useful for preventing cancer and promoting health. However, the threat of heavy metal contamination in the diet and the attendant ill health that may result makes it necessary to estimate the concentration of these microminerals and heavy metals in fruits and vegetables that are either eaten raw or cooked.
Objective: This study was designed to measure the levels of microminerals (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr) and heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Ni) in some fruits and vegetables obtained from markets in Abeokuta city, south-west Nigeria.
Methods: Food samples were digested by dry ashing and their metals were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry.
Results: The results show mean values of 4.67-135, 20.7-466, 2.87-12.6, 4.55-64.9, 0.030-1.36, 0.040-0.870, <0>
Conclusion: The daily intakes of the metals through these fruits and vegetables were estimated and found to be lower than the provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI) proposed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Thus, the consumption of average amount of these foodstuffs does not pose a health risk for the consumers.
