Safety of copper, zinc and iron metal residues in fresh sugarcane juices sold in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana

Abstract

Fruit juices are a highly valued, tasty food and usually have exceptional nutritional qualities. However, they can be a probable source of toxic elements. The presence of potentially toxic heavy metals in fruits is of intense public interest and requires rapid assessment of the levels of these contaminants and their potential to pose hazard. The aim of this study was to assess the levels and potential health of three essential heavy metals Cu, Zn and Fe in sugarcane juice sold by vendors in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Samples of sugarcane were obtained from ten vendors over a period of five weeks in November 2013. Three samples were collected weekly. The juice were quizzed from the fruits. The weekly samples from each vendor were composited and then filtered.10 mL of the homogenized juice was digested with Nitric acid and the metals analyzed using 210VGP Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The risk was assessed by evaluating the hazard quotient, HQ and hazard index, HI. The overall mean concentration of metals in the fifty samples sugarcane juice were Cu, 0.31 mg/L; Zn, 1.37 mg/L and Fe, 9.79 mg/L. The mean concentration of metals in the sugar cane collected from the ten vendors over the period ranged between 0.20 and 0.46 mg/L for Cu; 0.30- 2.80 mg/L and for Zn 7.13 -13.04 for Fe. The HQs and HI were all less than 1, suggesting that adverse effects are unlikely