Journal of Food Quality and Hazards Control

en Risk Assessment of Toxic Heavy Metals Concentration of Fish and Drinking Water in Nsukka Metropolis, South East, Nigeria تخصصي Special Original article Original article <div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Toxic Heavy Metals (THMs) threaten food safety and result in human poisonings. It seems to be few studies on THMs contamination in food chain in developing countries. Current investigation determine the concentration and health risk of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), as well as mercury (Hg) in fish and water at Nsukka, Metropolis, Enugu state, Nigeria. Methods: Forty eight samples; 24 (catfish and tilapia) fish and 24 (borehole, sachet, and bottled) water were randomly collected from two major markets and districts in Nsukka Metropolis and were evaluated for THMs using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The Estimated Daily Intake, Target Hazard Quotient, Hazard Index, and Cancer Risk (CR) were assessed as well. Results: THMs analaysis showed that As, Cd, and Hg were at 100% and Pb being at 16% in all the fish samples while 12.5% of fish of exceeded the Hg Maximum Permissible Limit (MPL) of 0.050 mg/kg, that not statistically significant (p>0.05).On the other hand, based on the analysis of all water samples, Hg and As were detected at 100% rate, Cd at 58.3% while Pb was not identified. The values above the MPL appeared to be 9 (37.5%), 2 (8.3%), and 3(12.5%) for Hg, As, and Cd, respectively in water while not statistically significant (p>0.05). The mean value of Hg (0.06425 mg/kg) in roasted fish as well as Cd (0.0065 and 0.0105) mg/ml in tap and bottled water respectively surpassed the MPL although not statistically significant (p>0.05). The Estimated Daily Intake of THMs except Cd in fish were proved to be within the Provisional Tolerable Daily Intake in contrast with As and Cd in water. CR is present both in children and adults with CR value >1. Conclusion: The finding of THMs in fish and water above the MPL is regarded as potential health risk for the consumers of such contaminated water and fish in the investigation scope. DOI: 10.18502/jfqhc.10.4.14177</div> Heavy Metal Poisoning, Drinking Water, Food Safety, Fishes, Nigeria 189 198 http://jfqhc.ssu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-993-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 I.O. Nwankwo innocent.nwankwo@unn.edu.ng 0000-0003-4559-5362 Yes Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria C.O. Anyaoha No Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria C.O. Nwabueze No Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria O.C. Nwobi No Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria C. Ibeachu No Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, the University of Wolverhampton, School of Public Health Studies Wulfruna St, Wolverhampton