• Opeyemi Isaac Ayanda, Oluwakemi Adetutu Bello, and Oluwatosin Ifeanyichukwu Nwabuisi.
• Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
• Afr Health Sci. 2020 Dec 1; 20 (4): 2050-2061.

BackgroundMany of the markets in Nigeria are open, where foodstuffs are laid bare on flat trays and open baskets, directly exposing them to environmental contaminants. This study aimed at determining whether some food items on sale around an industrialized area of Ogun State are contaminated with trace metals.MethodsSeven different food items - Clarias gariepinus (roasted, fresh and smoked) Bos taurus (dried and fresh beef), zobo leaf (Hibiscus sabdariffa) and crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) were sampled from three major markets, namely: Lusada, Atan and Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota LGA of Ogun State. They were analyzed for Lead, Cadmium, Nickel, Manganese and Zinc using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.ResultsCd was not detected in most of the food items across the markets. Pb, Ni and Mn were detected in very high concentrations above the maximum allowable limits by international regulatory agencies. Zn was the only metal that was generally below regulatory limits in food items across the three markets. The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values were generally higher than values acceptable in food.ConclusionSome of the food items consumed in this area are not entirely safe from metal toxicity and this may have serious health consequences.© 2020 Ayanda OI et al.

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