Comparative Assessment of Heavy Metals and Health Risks in Elaeis guineensis Oils Produced in Juaben Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

This study compared the concentration of heavy metals like iron (Fe), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), and lead (Pb) in five samples each of palm and kernel oils produced in Juaben, Ghana, using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric (AAS) technique and its associated health risks. The mean metal concentrations in palm and kernel oils were Fe (6.445 mg/kg and 13.654 mg/kg), Cu (1.734 mg/kg and 10.639 mg/kg), Zn (5.075 mg/kg and 2.854 mg/kg), Cd (0.096 mg/kg and 0.110 mg/kg), As (0.395 mg/kg and 0.295 mg/kg), and Pb (0.364 mg/kg and 0.175 mg/kg), respectively. The level of heavy metals in both oils with the exception of Zn were above CODEX permissible limits, indicating quality defects. Paired sample t-test analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in Fe, Cu, Zn, and Cd levels in palm and kernel oils. However, a statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) was observed in both oils for As and Pb. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis revealed a weakly negative (Cd), moderately negative (Fe), strongly negative (Cu), and strongly positive (Zn, As, Pb) correlations between metals in both oils. Calculated health risk index and hazard index values were less than one indicating that consumers are not at risk ingesting these metals from both oils. The carcinogenic risk value for Cd, As and Pb, fell below the threshold range for both palm and kernel oils. These findings suggest that palm and kernel oils produced in Juaben does not pose any toxicological risk to consumer’s health. However, continuous consumption of these oils can have serious health implications due to bioaccumulation in the body. Therefore,it is imperative to adopt measures to reduce the level of these metals especially Pb and As in both oils.