A Comparative Assessment of Concentrations of Heavy Metals in Un-soaked and Soaked Maize (Zea mays) and Guinea Corn (Sorghum bicolor) sold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Food is the most vital component of human existence. Maize and guinea corn purchased from open market in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria were divided each into two group. One group was soaked in distilled water for four days and the other group remain unsoaked. After four days, they were both even dried to constant weight and digested using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The digest were analyzed for heavy metals using atomic absorption spectrophotometer model model SN – SG 10960. The result obtained showed higher value of metals in the unsoaked grains as against the soaked grains. The percentage removal of metals in maize was 22.999, 19.867, 100, 1.252, 9.953, 10.198, 7.007 and 4.412% for Pb, Cr, As, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cu and Mn respectively. For guinea corn, the percentage removal of the metal after soaking were; 51.592, 25.491, 100, 1.139, -8.365, 23.292, 7.585 and 22.661% for Pb, Cr, As, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cu and Mn. However, Cd was not detected in any of the samples and Zn content in guinea corn slightly increased in value. The result implied that soaking of cereals before preparation for human consumption could be an important source of removal of toxic metals from food

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