Abstract

Nowadays, single-use plastics are ubiquitous and becoming a vehicle that dispose harmful chemicals like heavy metals. Thus, it is possible that plastics in contact with food dissipate heavy metals that are harmful when consumed by humans or relations. Mainly, the objective of the study was to assess the levels of Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Pb in some single-use plastics collected from local government in Sokoto, Nigeria using atomic absorption spectroscopic methods, other standard methods, and reagents of analytical grade. The results (P< 0.05) show the following outcomes: The levels of Cu ranges from 0.00ppm (undetected in Pop Cola drink) to 0.37 ± 0.01 ppm (in bottled water); Zn levels is in the range of 0.15 0.002 ppm (in Fanta drinks) to 1.5 ± 0.001 ppm (in bread). The concentration levels of Cd, Pb and Cr revealed a range from 0.06 ± 0.002 (in Fanta drink) to 0.11 ± 0.002 (in biscuits). Pb level ranges from 0.02 ± 0.001 ppm (in Pop Cola and Fanta) to 1.7 ± 0.005 ppm (in bread); while Cr concentration was minimally found in water (0.03 0.002 ppm), and maximally found in bread (0.90± 0.002 ppm). In plastics, Cu ranges from 0.01 ± 0.001 ppm (in Pop Cola) to 0.40± 0.005 (in plastic bag); Zn ranges from 0.2 ± 0.005 ppm (in water bottle) to 0.25 0.00 ppm (in biscuits and Fanta plastic containers). Similarly, Cd was maximum in biscuits wrapper (0.12 0.002 ppm), and minimum in bread bag and Pop Cola container (0.06± 0.002 ppm). Pb element was highest in bread bag (1.0 ± 0.001 ppm), and lowest in Pop Cola container (0.02±0.001 ppm); while, Cr was maximum in biscuits wrapper (0.12 0.002 ppm) and minimum in Pop Cola (0.005 ± 0.002 ppm).In conclusion, it can be echoed that, the plastic examined contain Cu and Zn essential metals in foods that are in contact with plastics at levels that are considered safe, and in turns could help in nutrition allowances; but, Cd, Cr, and Pb could add up to the other sources of toxins contacted by human consumers and in turn leading to negative effects.

Keywords

heavy metals, plastics, consumers, foodstuffs, biscuits, pop cola, empty calories