Environmental health risk index assessment in edible vegetable oils within Lagos Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Edible vegetable oils are common in the market and almost every household uses the oils every day. In this study the goal is to measure the concentration of selected toxic metals, obtain information on health risk index and assessment of the environment due to these toxic metals and estimated daily dose intake from the polluted vegetable oils consumed and the impact on the population. Ten different vegetable oils from various manufacturers where collected from department stores in Lagos and processed for toxic metals analysis. A digital analytical balance (Explorer, Ohaus, Model E11140, and Switzerland) with ±0.0001 g precision was used for all measurements. Buck Scientific Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (BSAAS) (Model 210/211 VGP) was used to determine the concentrations of these heavy metals. The concentrations for Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cd and Fe are in the range of 7.075 – 0.891; 0.032 – 0.008; 1.175 – 0.034; 9.065 – 0.082; 0.073 – 0.013; 0.077 – 0.017 and 6.625 – 0.580 mg\kg respectively. Potential non-carcinogenic health risk was evaluated using the daily estimate intake (DEI) of this metals and the health risk index. In addition, the carcinogenic health risk assessment of lifetime of these metals was evaluated; and health risk indices (HRI) were obtained. 1>HRI_(A3)>HRI_(A4)>HRI_(A7)>HRI_(A1)>HRI_(A5)>HRI_(A6)>HRI_(A2)>HRI_(A8)>HRI_(A9)>HRI_(A10) . This implies that the edible vegetable oils are safe for consumption since these values are less than 1. The results obtained are comparable with the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), thus the results indicate no health risk in the short time.