ABSTRACT

In this study, heavy metals were analysed in packed fruit juices purchased from several booths on Lagos Street, Ring Road, Benin City, using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Six different fruit juice brands, Chivita Exotic, Frutta, Mr. Fruits, Caprison, Chivita Active, and Ribena, purchased in triplicates, were chosen in an attempt to quantify three heavy metals: zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu). The wet digestion procedure was used to digest the samples. The concentration of heavy metals varied between the different kinds of fruit juices. Mean concentrations of Copper in this study were 0.007±0.005, 0.006±0.005, 0.006±0.005, 0.003±0.005, 0.000±0.006, and 0.006±0.005 mg/l for Chivita Exotic, Caprison, Ribena, Mr. Fruit, Chivita Active, and Frutta, respectively.Mean concentrations of Zinc for Chivita Exotic, Caprison, Ribena, Mr. Fruit, Chivita Active, and Frutta were 0.1±1.7E-17, 0.0±0.0, 0.067±0.057, 0.083±0.015, and 0.083±0.028 mg/l, respectively. For Chivita Exotic, Caprison, Ribena, Mr. Fruit, Chivita Active, and Frutta, the mean values for Manganese were 0.2±3.4E-17, 0.033±0.057, 0.033±0.057, 0.00±0.057, 0.00±0.00, and 0.067±0.057 mg/l, respectively. Non-carcinogenic health risk was estimated from the results obtained from this study using the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and Target Hazard Quotient (THQ). For children, the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) ranged from 0.00-0.02, 0.00-0.67, and 0.00-0.33 mg/kg for Cu, Mn and Zn respectively, whereas for adults, it ranged from 0.00-0.06, 0.00-1.67, and 0.00-0.83 mg/kg for Cu, Mn, and Zn respectively. The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) for children ranged from 0.00-0.56, 0.00-47.62, and 0.00-1.11 mg/kg for Cu, Mn, and Zn respectively, whereas for adults, THQ ranged from 0.00-1.39, 0.00-119.05, and 0.00-2.78 mg/kg for Cu, Mn and Zn respectively. The Total Target Hazard Quotient (TTHQ) ranged from 0.93 to 49.29 for children and 2.31 to 123.21 for adults. Fruit juices should be regularly accessed for contamination by heavy metals in order to prevent human health risk through exposure.