Contaminant Iron in Water and Soil Samples and in Vitro Availability Studies

Abstract

The iron content from 24 well water samples in tropical southern Nigeria ranged from 0.05 to 3.1 μg per millitre. Iron extracted from soil samples in deionized water, 0.1 M NaOH, 0.1 N HCI, and 0.1 N HCl-ascorbic acid averaged 79. 7, 146.3, 809.8, and 1,268.1 μg of iron per 100 g of soil sample respecfively. Extraction of iron from the soil samples was significantly affected (p < .05) by the addition of ascorbic acid. The dialysable iron in some meals containing contaminant iron from the samples compared favourably with a standard meal with ferric chloride. Dialysable iron was influenced significantly (p<.05) by the components in the meals. Meat and ascorbic acid enhanced the dialysability of contaminant iron sources in both the semi-synthetic meals and some tropical food items. The contribution of these contaminant iron sources to the diet of Nigerians in relation to the high frequency of iron-deficiency anaemia is discussed.