LEVELS OF IRON, ZINC, CADMIUM AND LEAD METALS IN SELECTED FRESH AND CANNED TOMATO PASTE PRODUCED IN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

In the present study, levels of selected heavy metals including Iron, Zinc, Cadmium, and Lead in fresh and canned tomato paste from two Ethiopian Tomato Processing Factories were determined using Atomic absorption spectrometry. The performance of the acid digestion procedure used in this study was evaluated utilizing recovery test and recoveries in the range of 93.29-99.33% were obtaind. In the fresh tomato, concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cd and Pb were found to be in the ranges of 3.01-3.23, 2.44-2.59, 2.19-2.63, and 10.42-14.99 mg/kg, respectively. Similarly, in the canned tomato paste, concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cd and Pb were found to be in the ranges of 3.28-3.48, 2.97-3.25, 2.58-2.80, and 12.33-13.85 mg/kg, respectively. The values obtained in this study were compared with international standards and it was observed that, the concentrations of Iron and Zinc in both fresh and canned tomato samples were not beyond the acceptable limits of these metals set by World Health Organization (WHO). However, the concentrations of Cadmium and Lead were found to be above the recommended limits for each metal. Based on the findings of the present study, the sources responsible for the observed high concentrations of Cadmium and Lead need to be given due consideration so as to protect the consumers from adverse health effects by the metals.