Determination of Heavy Metals in Some Selected Flavour Drinks in Nigeria

Abstract

The level of heavy metals contamination in flavor drinks has not been investigated in Nigeria. This research was aimed at arsenic at the level of heavy metals contamination in five (5) different powdered flavor drinks commonly sold in Nigerian local markets using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) after acid digestion (HNO3, H2SO4 &HCLO4) in the ratio 1:1:1. The results showed the presence of heavy metals that are considered toxic such cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, and arsenic at concentrations range between 0.040-0.199, 0.075-0.260, 0.132-0.487, 0.091-0.1324 and 0.221-1.185 mg/L respectively and were found to be above the maximum contaminant level sets by USEPA (2011). Other heavy metals such as chromium, cobalt, copper, selenium, manganese, and iron that are considered essential and less toxic were also determined using this method.