Levels of toxic elements (Pb and Cd) in canned fish products using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Date

4-2006

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Maxima E. Flavier

Abstract

Levels of toxic metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were determined in five brands of canned sardines and mackerel using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Sample preparations were done by wet digestion method using HNO3/HCI04 and microwave oven digestion using 1-1NC-13/H202. Matrix interferences in the two methods of digestion for both metals were determined using standard addition technique. The slope ratios obtained for lead and cadmium in wet digestion were 0.776 and 0.595 respectively, and in microwave oven digestion the slope ratios were 0.916 and 0.751 respectively. From the slope ratios obtained, matrix used in the two methods of digestion in the analyses of teat; and cadmium both showed suppression of the signal. The limit of detection obtained for Pb Cd using wet digestion method were 0.0283 and 0.0023 mg/Kg respectively; and for microwave oven digestion were 0.0275 and 0.0016 mg/Kg respectively. Recovery experiments were determined to evaluate the accuracy of the method. In the wet digestion method, the percent recovery for lead and cadmium ranged from 65.4 to 87.5 and 79 4 to 86.0 respectively. In the microwave oven digestion method the percent recoveries showed higher values for lead (99.3-109) and Cd (89.6-123). Using wet digestion method, the results obtained for canned sardines ranged from 0.505-1.40 mg/Kg Pb and 0.166-0.289 mg/Kg Cd. On the other hand, the levels of lead and cadmium in canned mackerel were 0.283-1.47 mg/Kg and 0.0399-0.270 mg/Kg respectively. Using microwave oven digestion method, the levels of lead and cadmium determined in canned sardines ranged from 1.14-2.02 mg/Kg and 0.135-0.362 mg/Kg respectively. In canned mackerel, the levels of lead ranged from 1.66-2.00 mg/Kg; and the levels of cadmium were 0.133-0.478 mg/Kg. The Canadian Food and Drug set the maximum allowable limit for fish flesh of 10.0 mg/Kg for lead and 0.50 mg/Kg for cadmium. The MAL set by WHO and UK Food and Drug Act for lead are 0.03 mg/Kg and 1.0 mg/Kg respectively. For cadmium, the MAL set by the European Community is 0.05 mg/Kg.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2006 C4 M46

Document Type

Thesis

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