Heavy Metals Toxicity:

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the concentration of heavy metals (Lead, cadmium,Chromium and copper) in branded and non-branded (local) snacks in the markets of Peshawar,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Setting:District Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Period: 6 months; from December 2016 toApril 2017. Materials and Methods: A total of 96 different samples of potato and corn snackswere selected from four towns of district Peshawar by convenient sampling technique. Allsamples were subjected to wet digestion using acid digestion technique and Lead, Cadmium,Chromium and copper were quantitatively detected, using Atomic Absorption spectrometer inthe Public Health laboratory Khyber Medical College Peshawar. Results: Mean concentrationof Lead, cadmium, chromium and copper in potato based branded snacks were in the rangeof 0.085-0.423mg/kg, 0.003-0.046 mg/kg, 2.186-2.328 mg/kg and 0.008-0.108 mg/kg andconcentration of heavy metals in corn based branded snacks were in range of 0.240-0.351mg/kg, 0.007-0.012mg/kg, 2.254-2.179 mg/kg, 0.030-0.082 mg/kg respectively. While meanconcentration of Lead, cadmium, chromium and copper in non-branded (local) snacks were0.057-0.324 mg/kg, 0.005-0.012 mg/kg, 2.137-2.247 mg/kg and 0.018-0.06 mg/kg respectively.Conclusion: Lead and chromium were exceeding in majority samples of branded and localsnacks. Particular concern was of chromium, which was exceeding far beyond the allowedlimits in all samples.