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Study on the Degree of Exposure of Tapioca (Local Cassava Condiment) to Some Heavy Metals During Drying

J. N. Asegbeloyin, N. N. Ukwueze, J. N. Ihedioha and A. E. Onyimonyi

A local cassava condiment; tapioca, was collected along major highway roads in Enugu-State. The samples were digested with in a 1 : 2 : 3 mixture of H 2 SO 4 , HClO 4 and HNO 3 and analysed for lead, zinc, cadmium and iron with an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) equipped with air- acetylene flame. Results showed that the ranges of the mean concentra tion of the metals were: Pb (0.65- 7.25 mg/Kg), Cd (0.01-0.09 mg/Kg), Zn (0.06-4.95 mg/Kg) and Fe (0.64-6.25 mg/Kg). The results also show that the levels of lead was high compared to zinc, cadmium and iron. The concentration of lead in the sample collected along the highw ay was significantly different (P < 0.05) from the control sample. It was concluded that the samples collected from the highway roads were polluted with lead as a result of vehicular activities.