Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 13: 700 - 702. Published January 5, 2009.
Determination of trace metals presence in drinking water and fruit juice in Benin City, Nigeria
Okeri HA.*, Mmeremikwu AC. and Ifeadi AN.
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author e–mail:hokeri1@yahoo.com; hokeri@uniben.edu
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the levels of trace metals drinking water and fruit juice in Benin City, Nigeria. Methodology and results: Fifteen water samples and 10 fruit juice samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) and the metallic elements Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn) and Zinc (Zn) measured. Fe was present in all the samples, Cu was present only in the drinking water samples, Mn and Zn were found in all drinking water samples and only three fruit juice samples. Pb and Cr were below the detection limits in all the samples.
Conclusion and application of findings: The trace metal levels in all the samples were below the allowable limits set by the National Research Council and WHO (1996) except in the case of one sample where the concentration of Zn (5.696 mg/L) was above the allowed limit and hence the product is unsafe for human consumption.
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