ABSTRACT

The concentrations of some trace metals (zinc, iron, copper, cadmium and lead) in 51 canned foods (fish, vegetable and fruit juice) samples purchased within Abuja Municipal Area Council (Nigeria) were determined using the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS). The wet oxidation procedure of HN03-H20 2 was used in the preparation of the samples. The ranges obtained for trace metals analyzed in ug/g are as follows: Canned fish: Zn (19.15±0.8-32.50±0.3), Fe (17.92± 1.2 -- 30.50±0.1 ), Cu (l.08±0.2 - 3.03±0.1), Cd (0.0-0.05±0.01) and Pb (0.00- 0.17±0.02). The concentration order in the fish is Zn >Fe > Cu > Pb > Cd. Canned fruit juice, Zn (5.9±0.2-7.6±0.1 ). Fe (7.6±0.6- 11.7±0.9), Cu ( 1.42±0.03-2.33±0.2), Cd (0.0-0.3±0.0 I) and Pb (0.0-0.15±0.02) these concentration order in canned fruit juice is Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. Canned vegetables, Zn (3.3±0.01-7.1±0.4), Fe (5.8±0.01 - 11.7±0.6), Cu (0.0 - 0.04±0.01) Cd (0.0 -- 0.03±0.01) and Pb (0.0 - 0.22±0.1 ). The concentration order in canned vegetable is Fe > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd. However, the concentration of Zn, Fe, Cu, Cd and Pb in the canned foodstuff did not exceed the joint FAO/WHO committee on food contaminants. Therefore, all metals determined in this study show no dissemble elevation in concentration.