Assessment of Metals Contamination Levels In Wheat, Maize and Beans Processed With Four Different Grinding Tools Using XRF

Abstract

KalagborA Ihesinachi, Akue K Excel, Barile N Father, Ite Magnus, NaadorB Stella

The levels of some metals contaminants in wheat, maize and beans processed with four different grinding tools namely; hand grinder (HG), wooden mortar (WM), grinding stone (GS) and domestic blender (DB) were investigated. The grains were purchased from a municipal market in Port Harcourt and analyzed for Cr, Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn,Pb, Cd, Si and Al using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The results obtained showed that samples ground with grinding stone had the highest concentrations of most of the metals followed by the hand grinder in the order of grinding stone >hand grinder> wooden mortar > domestic blender. Out of the nine metals and two metalloids investigated Co, Cd and Pb were below detection levels. However, Co was detected in beans only. Si was detected only in samples ground with grinding stone. V, Mo, W, Sn and Sb were found to be present in these samples and their concentrations were high in all three grains processed using the four tools. These high concentrations of Sn and Sb are a source of concern.XRF technique has been successfully employed in the evaluation of the concentrations of some metals and metalloids in wheat, maize and beans.

PDF