Table 1 Average concentrations ± standard deviation (SD), range, and permissible value of H.Ms in foodstuff groups.
Category | Sample type | Sample number | Concentration (µg/kg) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pb | Cd | Cr | As | Pb | Cd | Cr | As | ||||||||
Average ± SD | Range | Average ± SD | Range | Average ± SD | Range | Average ± SD | Range | *Maximum permissible limits | |||||||
Beverages | Carbonated soft drinks | 12 | 18.7 ± 9.7 | 8–41 | 9.3 ± 8.5 | 1–30 | 7.7 ± 5.8 | 2–21 | 1.5 ± 0.8 | ND − 6 | 10 | 10 | 50 | 10 | |
Energy drinks | 2 | 21.5 ± 5.5 | 16–27 | 8.5 ± 4.5 | 4–13 | 11 ± 5 | 6–16 | 1.6 ± 1.0 | ND − 3 | ||||||
Tea | 3 | 33.0 ± 9.4 | 21–44 | 15.0 ± 3.7 | 10–19 | 8.7 ± 0.5 | 8–9 | 5.0 ± 0.8 | 4–6 | 500 | 100 | NA | NA | ||
Instant coffee | 3 | 14.0 ± 4.1 | 9–19 | 8.0 ± 0.8 | 7–9 | 5.3 ± 0.5 | 5–6 | 2.7 ± 1.2 | 1–4 | NA | NA | NA | NA | ||
All beverages | 20 | 20.4 ± 10.3 | 8–44 | 9.9 ± 7.2 | 1–30 | 7.8 ± 5.0 | 2–21 | 4.1 ± 1.4 | ND-6 | ||||||
Processed Cereals | Wheat Flour | 5 | 68.0 ± 21.3 | 34–96 | 6 ± 2 | 3–9 | 6.8 ± 0.8 | 5–9 | 4.0 ± 1.7 | 1–6 | 200 | 100 | 200 | 10–100 | |
Bread | 3 | 43.7 ± 16.3 | 24–64 | 5.7 ± 1.7 | 4–8 | 2.7 ± 1.2 | 1–4 | 3.3 ± 1.2 | 2–5 | ||||||
Macaroni | 2 | 45 ± 5 | 40–50 | 5.5 ± 1.5 | 4–7 | 3.0 ± 0.7 | 3–3 | 2 ± 1 | 1–3 | ||||||
Instant noodles | 5 | 97.0 ± 21.4 | 70–124 | 7.0 ± 1.4 | 5–9 | 8.2 ± 0.7 | 7–9 | 6.8 ± 1.6 | 5–9 | ||||||
Corn products | 3 | 24.3 ± 6.8 | 19–34 | 7.3 ± 1.7 | 5–9 | 4.0 ± 0.8 | 3–5 | 3.7 ± 1.2 | 6–9 | ||||||
All cereals | 18 | 62.2 ± 31.4 | 19–124 | 6.4 ± 1.8 | 3–9 | 5.6 ± 2.4 | 1–9 | 5 ± 2.4 | 1–9 | ||||||
Milk/Dairy milk products | Milk | 4 | 20.8 ± 6.6 | 12–30 | 6.3 ± 2.8 | 3–9 | 5.3 ± 1.9 | 3–8 | 1.8 ± 0.4 | 1–2 | 20 | 10 | 150 | 10 | |
Dairy milk | 2 | 25 ± 15 | 10–40 | 6.5 ± 1.5 | 5–8 | 5.5 ± 0.5 | 5–6 | 4.0 ± 0.5 | 4 | ||||||
All milk | 6 | 22.2 ± 10.4 | 10–40 | 6.3 ± 2.4 | 3–9 | 5.3 ± 1.6 | 3–8 | 2.5 ± 1.1 | 1–4 | ||||||
Fish/Meat products | Canned Fish | 2 | 206 ± 28 | 178–234 | 9.5 ± 1.5 | 8–11 | 7.5 ± 1.5 | 6–9 | 8 ± 1 | 7–9 | 300 | 50 | 100 | 100 | |
Canned Beef | 2 | 194 ± 4 | 190–198 | 8.5 ± 0.5 | 8–9 | 6.5 ± 0.5 | 6–7 | 7 ± 1 | 6–8 | 100 | 50 | 100 | 10 | ||
Luncheon | 2 | 264.5 ± 33.5 | 231–298 | 119.5 ± 14.5 | 105–134 | 94.5 ± 4.5 | 90–99 | 10.5 ± 1.5 | 9–12 | ||||||
All fish/meat | 6 | 221.5 ± 39.9 | 190–298 | 45.8 ± 52.8 | 8–134 | 36.2 ± 41.3 | 6–99 | 8.5 ± 1.8 | 6–12 | ||||||
Table salt | Processed & natural | 4 | 174.0 ± 38.5 | 111–211 | 8.3 ± 1.5 | 6–10 | 10.0 ± 4.1 | 7–17 | 7.8 ± 0.8 | 7–9 | 2000 | 500 | NA | 100 | |
Total value | 3685 (72%) | 659 (12.9%) | 546 (10.7%) | 228 (4.5%) | |||||||||||
Overall heavy metals content | 5118 | ||||||||||||||
