Health Risk Evaluation of Selected Heavy Metals in Infant Nutrition Formula in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study is to ascertain the level of some heavy metals namely; Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Cobalt and Lead in baby milk or infant formulas used in the country and evaluate the health risk associated with their consumption. Five (5) brands of popularly consumed and most preferred or recommended infant formula foods for children in Nigeria were bought from the main (Watt) market in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria and were coded and labeled V, W, X, Y and Z respectively. The samples were digested in the fume cupboard using aqua regia and analyzed for heavy metals using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The results showed that the concentration of Arsenic was less than 0.001mgkg-1 across all the five (5) brands. Cadmium concentration ranged between 0.010 - 0.052 mgkg-1 , and it was detected in all the samples. Cobalt ranged between 0.002 - 0.010 mgkg-1 , and it was detected in 3 out of the 5 samples. Chromium concentration ranged between 0.002 - 0.004 mgkg-1 was detected in 4 out of the 5 samples or brands of infant formula studied. Lead amount ranged between 0.080 - 0.014 mgkg-1 and was less than 0.001 mgkg-1 in 2 brands out of the five brands sampled. These results are low and within the permissible limits of WHO. The Target Hazard Quotients (THQ) of these metals were all less than 1 except for Cadmium in brand V that was 1. This indicates that there is no health danger associated with the imgestion of the infant formulas at the moment Keywords: Health risk, Heavy metals, Infant formula, Calabar-Nigeria