HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF NITRATE AND NITRITE VIA CONSUMPTION OF SELECTED CANNED FOOD SOURCE

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing the levels of nitrate and nitrite in some canned food source sold in Nigeria market and hence, reports its health risk implications. To achieve this, five batches of two brands of canned Fish (T and FS), Tomato paste (TO), Corned beef (M) and Baked beans (BB) were bought from different locations in Zaria market, Nigeria. The samples were then treated and analyzed according to standard methods for nitrate and nitrite. The results showed the trend for nitrate concentration (μg/g), T > M > TO > FS > BB, for nitrite the trend was FS > TO > BB > T > M. The daily intake rate (μg per-1 day-1) for nitrate in adults was M > TO > T > BB > FS and that of nitrite was TO > BB > FS > M > T. The study also considered the Health Risk Index in the abstract for nitrate in adults shows M > TO > BB > TO > FS, while Health Risk Index for nitrite in the same group shows TO > FS > BB > M > T. The HRI was conducted for children it shows that for nitrate M > TO > BB > T > FS and for nitrite the Health Risk Index was TO > FS > BB > M > T. The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) showed that nitrite is slightly more hazardous than nitrate in adults. The results concluded that the nitrate and nitrite content of canned foods sold in Zaria were high but risk assessment showed it was not significantly high to cause serious health concern.