This study is evaluated the concentration of some toxic heavy metals present in selected cosmetics sold and used in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeriausing aFlame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), VGP 210 (BUCK Scientific) Model. The result revealed that the average  concentration of the metals in mg/L ranged thus: Cadmium (0.012- 0.046), Chromium (0.002- 0.022), Lead (0.004- 0.024) and Nickel (0.140- 0.416). The concentration of Arsenic and Mercury was not detected, and were considered string variables in this study. From the results, the concentration of the metals detected were within the permissible limit of the World Health Organization (WHO) except Cadmium that was slightly above the WHO limit in one of the samples with a value of 0.046 mg/L. These results indicate that the selected cosmetics used in Calabar contains low amounts of the heavy metals analyzed in this study and may not pose any health risk for now, except that the accumulation of such little amounts over timedue to prolonged use of these cosmetics may cause harm. Keywords: Concentration, Heavy metals, Cosmetics, Calabar

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine concentration of heavy metals in the soil and edible vegetables planted consumed Yala Urban Area of Cross River State, Nigeria, ascertained the level of metals contamination and the possible health risk or implication. Sampling: Forty eight (48) soil and edible vegetable samples (6 of each kind of the 8 vegetables) were collected randomly from Yala Urban Area of Cross River State. The eight vegetables considered for the study were Amaranthus spp., Corchorus olitorius, Murraya koenigii, Ocimum grattissimum, Solanum melongena, Talinum triangulare, Telferia occidentalis and Vernonia amygdalina. They were collected between January and March for dry season, and July and September for rainy season of the year.  Methodology: The samples were digested and analyzed for the Cr, Fe, Hg and Ni (heavy metals) concentration using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) in the Chemistry Laboratory, University of Calabar. Results: The results showed that the mean concentration of the metals in the soil in mgkg-1 ranged from (0.063 - 0.108) and (0.049 - 0.104) in rainy and dry seasons respectively for Cr, and (0.026 - 0.124) and (0.013 - 0.119) in rainy and dry season respectively for Fe. The mean concentration accumulated by the vegetables ranged from (0.037- 0.063) and (0.029 - 0.066) in rainy and dry season respectively for Cr and (0.012- 0.071) and (0.008- 0.086) in rainy and dry season respectively. Hg and Ni were neither detected in the soil nor in the vegetables. The trend of the metals in both the soil and vegetable was in the order: Cr > Fe> Hg> Ni. The Target Hazard Quotients were all less than 1, indicating no health risk. Conclusion: These results suggest that there is no significant difference between the amount of metals in the soil or that accumulated by the vegetables in rainy and dry seasons of the year. Also the amount of metals accumulated by most of the vegetables was directly proportional to the amount present in the soil where they are planted. These results indicate that the concentration of Cr, Fe, Hg and Ni in the soil and vegetables were still low and within the permissible limits of WHO/FAO. Thus, the consumption of the vegetables in the area may not pose any risk at the moment.

Aims and Objectives: To determine the effect of extracting solvents on the physicochemical properties of oils extracted from four locally available plant seeds in Nigeria namely: Alchornea cordiforlia, Hura crepitans, Irvingia gabonensis and Pycnanthus angollensis using three different solvents namely; n-Hexane, Petroleum ether and Dichloromethane. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemistry Laboratory, University of Calabar, Nigeria. The study was carried out between August 2019 and December 2019, (5 months). Methodology: Each plant seed was ground into a paste and extracted for its oil using a Soxhlet extractor and three different solvents namely; n-Hexane, Petroleum ether and Dichloromethane. The physicochemical properties of the oils were then analysed. Results: The results revealed the mean values of the physicochemical properties of A. cordifolia oil extracted using Hexane, Petroleum ether and Dichloromethane respectively were % yield (36.50, 34.50 and 32.00), specific gravity (0.91, 0.91 and 0.92), flash point (156.00, 155.00 and 191.00°C), Acid value (23.76, 25.10 and 26.80 mEqk-1), % free fatty acid (11.88, 12.55 and 13.40), Peroxide value (6.56, 6.38 and 6.90 mEqK-1), Saponification value (163.20, 156.40 and 165.50 mgKOHg-1) and iodine value (25.40, 48.60 and 46.50 g/100 g). The mean values of the properties of H. crepitans oil across the 3 solvents respectively were % yield (32.20, 31.50 and 29.00), specific gravity (0.92, 0.93 and 0.94), flash point (271.00, 259.00 and 240.00°C), Acid value (21.00, 21.80 and 22.20 mEqk-1), % free fatty acid (10.50, 10.90 and 11.10), Peroxide value (5.85, 6.26 and 7.10 mEqK-1), Saponification value (172.50, 190.40 and 185.60 mgKOHg-1) and Iodine value (43.60, 34.50 and 26.90 g/100 g). Properties of the I. gabonensis oil were % yield (33.20, 34.00 and 32.50), Specific gravity (0.92, 0.94 and 0.94), flash point (230.00, 236.00 and 260.00°C), Acid value (3.72, 3.70 and 3.90 mEqk-1), % free fatty acid (1.86, 1.85 and 1.95), Peroxide value (2.98, 4.26 and 3.63), Saponification value (239.50, 252.40 and 245.80) and Iodine value (25.30, 11.70 and 44.20). Mean values of P. angollensis oil properties were % yield (34.10, 36.20 and 33.00), Specific gravity (0.92, 0.92 and 0.93), flash point (260.00, 258.00 and 256.00°C), Acid value (23.68, 25.00 and 26.00 mEqk-1), % free fatty acid (11.84, 12.50 and 13.00), Peroxide value (4.25, 5.30 and 5.96), Saponification value (25.30, 52.50 and 57.30) and Iodine value (25.20, 11.68 and 44.40). The odour, colour and physical state of all the oils at room temperature was the same across the 3 solvents. Conclusion: The results indicate that the physicochemical properties of the oils vary with the extracting solvent and its polarity. Their properties revealed that some of them can be used for many domestic and industrial purposes especially for the making of paints, soap, cosmetics, lubricants and varnishes.

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