IJEP 44(10): 931-938 : Vol. 44 Issue. 10 (October 2024)
1. University of Kufa, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, Al-Najaf, Iraq
2. Directorate General of Education in Najaf Governorate, Najaf, Iraq
Abstract
Heavy metals, zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in samples of cereals and cereal products as baby foods from the Iraqi market were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Also, some health risk parameters (estimated daily intake, target hazard quotients, hazard index and carcinogenic risk) were calculated. The results of three heavy metals that were detected in cereals and cereal-based food products ranged from 0.048-3.817 mg/kg (Zn), 0.004-0.111 mg/kg (Pb) and 0.059-0.354 mg/kg (Cd). Also, the average value for Zn, Pb and Cd concentrations in all samples of the present study were 1.38±0.18 mg/kg, 0.049±0.004 mg/kg and 0.186±0.014 mg/kg, respectively. The range with average hazard index values in all samples were 0.295-1.649 and 0.873±0.066, respectively. The range with average values of carcinogenic risk (×10-6) due to Pb concentrations in all samples were 0.15-4.05 and 1.81±0.18, respectively. Overall, the concentrations of Zn and Pb were generally below the safe limit according to FAO/WHO, while Cd concentrations in some samples in the present study were higher than the safe limit. On the other hand, the hazard index values found in some samples were higher than the acceptable levels, while the values of carcinogenic risk in all samples were within the acceptable range (10-6-10-4) as established by the regulatory organizations. Therefore, it can be concluded that some of the baby food, cereals and cereal products studied are not safe for consumption.
Keywords
Heavy metals, Atomic absorption Spectroscopy, Baby foodstuffs, Health risk, Cereals
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