Abstract:
Heavy metal pollution of food has been recognized globally as a public health risk, and
continuous monitoring of dietary intake from food sources is necessary to assure food safety
and nutritional considerations. In this study, heavy metals including cadmium, chromium,
cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel and zinc were quantified in different packed juice
samples (n = 30) categorized into ten brands, by using Micro Plasma Atomic Emission
Spectroscopy (MP-AES) and assess associated health risk in packed fruit juices in the markets
of Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia. The fruit juice samples were digested using microwave
digestion with a mixture of HNO3 and H2O2 (3:1) programmed ramped to 180 ˚C in 35 min
prior to MP-AES analysis. The results showed that the observed mean concentration levels in
mg/L of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, and Co were 0.680±0.020 - 1.520±0.035, 0.120±0.009 - 1.370±0.022, 0.012±0.001 - 0.312±0.001, <0.013 - 0.051±0.001, <0.0085 - 0.017±0.001,
<0.0096-0.097±0.002, 0.087±0.006 - 0.127±0.003, <0.0065 - 0.080±0.001, and <0.011 -
0.015±0.002 in mg/L, respectively. The human risk assessment result showed that the Chronic
Daily Intake/exposure (CDI) values followed in the decreasing order of Fe > Zn > Cu > Ni >
Cr > Pb > Mn > Co > Cd for both adults and children. Total Chronic Daily intakes of all the
studied HMs were less than the Maximum Tolerable Daily Intake (MTDI). The target hazard
quotient (THQ) values of Fe, Cd, Cr and Pb were relatively higher as compared to the other
heavy metals, but the values were less than unity indicating that the studied HMs negligible
non-carcinogenic human health risks. Similarly, the calculated hazard index (HI) values for
both adult and child populations were less than unity, disclosing minimal non-carcinogenic
human health risks upon exposure to mixture of the heavy metals. Consistently, cancer risk
(CR) for Cd, Ni, Pb and Cr HMs and the total cancer risk (TCR) via the juices for the mixture
of HMs (Cd, Ni, Pb and Cr) assessment results indicate that there were low carcinogenic risks
(CR < 1x10-4) for adult and relatively carcinogenic risk for children. So, this study implies to
safeguard the health of the consumers, primarily fruit juice companies and other regulatory
authorities in Ethiopia should establish regular monitoring program ensure that CR the
concentration levels of these HMs < 1x10-4.
