Proximate Composition and Human Health Risk Assessment of Trace Metals inSelected Foodstuffs Sold in Abakaliki Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

The study evaluated the proximate composition and human health assessment of trace metals in selected 
foodstuffs sold in Abakaliki metropolis, Nigeria. Moisture content, ash content, crude protein, crude fiber, 
dry matter, nitrogen-free extracts (NFE), and human health risks of trace metals were determined. The 
results of the proximate analysis of Bambara nut, maize, and wheat which were represented with sample 
IDs A, B, and C respectively showed that moisture contents ranged from 6.75±0.8 in sample A to 10.64±0.1 
% in sample B, crude fat had a range of 1.8±0.2 in sample C to 3.35±0.2 % in sample A. Range of values 
for crude fiber, crude protein, crude ash, dry matter, and NFE (%) were 0.78±0.3 in sample A to 2.13±0.5 
% B, 8.60±1.6 in B to 12.20±2.8 % in sample C, 5.06±0.1 in sample B to 9.22±0.4 % in sample A, 89.35±4.2 
in sample B to 93.24±5.9 % in sample A and 75.85±3.7 in sample A to 81.63±2.5 in sample B respectively. 
The results of the trace metal analysis (mg/kg) showed that Fe ranged from 289.29±34.38 in sample A to 
398.38±38.48 in sample C. Cd was not detected in any of the samples while Pb was detected in sample C 
only. Cr was detected in samples A and B but not obtained in sample C. The health risks assessment such 
as estimated daily intake (EDI), health risk index (HRI), and targeted hazard quotient (THQ) were all 
obtained and the results obtained showed that samples A and B had adverse health effects while samples C 
had no adverse health effects. The foodstuffs analyzed were found to be rich in nutrients, however, some 
posed health risk of cancer, prompting a recommendation from health authorities to establish mitigation 
measures to protect consumers