Assessment of the concentrations levels of some essential and toxic elements in baby food collected from different local markets in Egypt

Abstract

In this study inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) used to develop analytical method for determination of Pb, Cd, Sb, Fe, Zn, Cr, Mn, Sn, Co, Ni and Cu in baby food samples. The method showed that the average recoveries of tested elements were varied between 78.1 and 117.2 % with relative standard deviation ranged from 1.81% to 16.83%, the limits of detection varied between 0.001 and 0.249 mg/kg, while limits of quantifications varied between 0.2 and 1 mg/kg. The method accuracy was confirmed by using certified reference materials from FAPAS. The expanded uncertainty in terms of pooled relative standard deviation at 95% confidence level ranged from 20.57% to 23.76%. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (GFASS) was used to confirm the results of Pb and Cd. A total number 154 baby food samples (infant milk formulae, baby cereals, canned baby food, herbal drinks and homemade baby food) were collected from the different pharmacies and markets in Giza, Egypt. The results showed that all analyzed samples were free from any detectable amount of Pb and Sb. The range of the investigated Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and Cd in different baby food samples were < LOQ – 163.9, < LOQ – 167.5, < LOQ – 7.11, < LOQ – 8.79 and < LOQ – 0.017 mg/kg, respectively, while all detectable amount of Sn, Co, Ni and Cr were less than limits of quantifications. The maximum detectable concentration of Fe was found in baby cereals samples, while the maximum detectable concentrations of Zn, Mn, Cd and Cu were found in infant milk formulae samples. On the other hand all processed herbal drinks were free from any detectable amount of Pb, Cd, Sb, Cr, Sn, Co and Cu, while 7, 5, 5 and 2 samples were recorded detectable amount of Mn, Fe, Zn and Ni but all concentrations were less than limits of quantifications. The daily and weekly intakes of detected elements for children through baby food samples have also been estimated at mean and maximum concentrations and all estimated weekly intakes were below the recommended tolerable levels set by (JECFA, 2005 and Food and Nutrition Board, 2001).

Keywords: Essential and toxic elements, Analytical method, ICP-OES, GFASS, Baby food, Egypt.