Evaluation of the Nutrient Composition of Fruits Selected From Different Markets in Lagos, Nigeria Together With Their Heavy Metals Contents

Abstract

Bolowa OE and Akintobi OJ

Introduction: Fruits are a form of staple food for humans obtained naturally. They contain various quantities of essential nutrients in the right proportion. Intake of fruits in the diet is usually a very heathy lifestyle as fruits prevents disease and keeps us healthy. Ingestion of trace amount of heavy metals through fruits leads to bioaccumulation producing serious health hazards. The aim of the study is to investigate the amount of heavy metals in fruits obtained from different markets in Lagos, Nigeria.

Materials and methods: Five trace metals and five toxic metals were analyzed in different fruit samples obtained from Lagos, Nigeria using the atomic absorption Spectrophotometer. Proximate analysis was carried out to determine the nutrient composition of the fruits.

Result: The result showed that 80% of the composition of fruits is made of moisture content. The carbohydrate content in fruits is about 10% while crude fibre makes up about 2%. From the analysis of trace metals carried out, paw paw (7.71 mg/kg) had the highest amount of zinc content followed by pineapple (6.60 mg/kg). Iron is high in pears (3.12 mg/kg) and Banana (2.26 mg/kg) while it is lowest in apple (0.59 mg/kg). Copper and Mn ranged from 0.40 t0 2.20 mg/kg. Analysis of the toxic heavy metals showed that lead ranged from 0.0 mg/kg to 0.12 mg/kg in carrot. This is high. Cd range from 0.0 in orange to 0.14mg/kg in apples. Cr ranged from 0.01mg/kg in healthyto 0.07mg/kg in orange. Nickel is highest in banana (9.21mg/kg) and lowest in water melon (0.37mk/kg).

Conclusion: Bioaccumulation of these heavy metals over time can be hazardous to health. It is better for the government to check the sources of these heavy metals and remediate them so as to prevent the exposure of the populace to diseases.

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