ALARMING HEAVY METAL CONTAMINANTS IN WHEAT FLOUR CAUSING HEALTH HAZARDSSANGEETA LOONKER AAND JASMINE SINGHAbstract A batch of eight samples of wheat flour was taken for analysis. They were procured from local market of Rajasthan. Weighed amounts of each sample were first digested in muffle furnace and then later treated with HCl for making sample solutions. The sample solutions were then estimated spectrophotometrically using Double Beam UV-Visible spectrophotometer (UV- 2601) for heavy metal contaminations. The samples were analyzed for seven heavy metals viz. lead, iron, copper, chromium, nickel, zinc and manganese. Surprisingly, it was found that the concentration of heavy metals were far above the permissible limits as specified by FAO/WHO, FNB, Codex Alimentarius Commission (1995), Draft Kenya Standard (DKS, 2009) and Nordic Council of Ministers, NCM, 1995. This high concentration of heavy metal contamination is very hazardous to health and is responsible for many physical, behavioral and mental disorders.
Enter your contact information below to receive full paper.
|