Assessing levels of selected heavy metal contamination and its related health risks in mango (Mangifera indica) fruits from roadsides in southeastern Ghana.
Keywords:
Heavy metals, Estimated daily intake, Hazard index, Safe limits, lifetime cancer risk, Southern GhanaAbstract
Fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals which form a vital part of the human diet. However, these fruits may contain toxic metals of varied range of concentrations. Heavy metal contamination of food crops such as mangoes (Mangnifera indica) threatens human health. An assessment was carried out on heavy metal contamination and the related health risks in mango fruits from Southeastern Ghana. Samples of mango fruits (n = 65) were measured for iron, manganese, copper, lead, chromium, nickel, and cobalt concentrations in relation to maximum allowable limits. Standard acid digestion method was employed for metal extraction for analysis using AA240FS Varian Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed that seven heavy metals were detected in all mango fruits collected from the streets and a market. The concentration levels of these heavy metals ranged from Fe (0.800-5.352) mgkg-1, Mn (0.082-0.499) mgkg-1, Cu (0.190-0.527) mgkg-1, Pb (0.008-0.107) mgkg-1, Cr (0.002-0.056) mgkg-1, Ni (0.035-0.545) mgkg-1 and Co (0.001-0.044) mgkg-1. The measured concentrations of these heavy metals are lower than the permissible limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). The hazard index (HI) range for adults (0.0345-0.5840) and children (0.1526-0.6948) did not exceed 1 and therefore poses no health and cancer risks to consumers. The study concludes that mango fruits sold at the study locations are suitable for consumption. Despite these findings, there is a need for periodic biomonitoring of heavy metals in mango fruits sold in Ghana to safeguard their quality and public health.
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