Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Some Chocolate Brands and Bread Sold in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

Three brands of chocolate and five varieties of bread samples were collected and subjected to acid digestion for evaluation of some heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Pb, Fe, Cd and Zn) using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentrations of the studied heavy metals in the chocolate brands were in the range 0.02-0.20; 0.02-0.10 and 0.09-0.20 mg/kg for Cd, Zn and Cr respectively. whereas Pb was not detected in the study. As per the bread samples, the concentrations ranged 0.05-0.13; 0.60-2.24, 0.30-0.06 and 0.02-0.10 mg/kg for Cd, Zn, Cr and Pb respectively. This study indicates that the concentrations of the studied brands of chocolate and bread are within the allowable limits hence pose no potential health risk or hazard upon consumption.
 Keywords: Chocolate, Concentrations, Spectrometry, Acid digestion