Evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and potentially toxic metals in commonly consumed pasta products available in the Nigerian markets

Abstract

Background: Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and potentially toxic metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn) were determined in three batches of eight types of commonly consumed pasta products (A - H) available in Nigeria. This was done in order to evaluate the health hazards associated with unguarded consumption of the products. Methods: A gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) was used to identify and quantify the levels of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Soxhlet-extracted fractions of powdered pasta product samples using n-hexane, while Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) was also used to quantify the levels of the metals in the acid digested pasta samples. Results: The recovery results (%R>90) confirmed the efficiency of the adopted analytical procedures. Levels of PAHs detected in the samples ranged between below detection limit (BDL) and 17.18 μg g-1 with total PAHs (μg g-1) occurring in the order: F > H > D > C > E > A > G > B. Potentially toxic metal concentrations (µg g-1) in the various pasta samples were of the order: Cd ˂ Cu ˂ Zn ˂ Mn, while Co and Pb were BDL in all the pasta samples. Conclusion: The pasta samples contained PAHs and potentially toxic metals at levels that could not cause immediate health infection but which could threaten the health of the consumers over prolonged regular consumption.

Keywords

• Health
• Pasta products
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• Nigeria
• Toxic metals