Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
Volume 188, Issue 2, Pages -Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-015-5078-1
Keywords
Candies and chocolate; Toxicity; Heavy metals; Dietary intake; Health risks
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Funding
- Department of Health Research (DHR), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
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Children are vulnerable to heavy metal contamination through consumption of candies and chocolates. Considering this representative samples (69) of candies and chocolates based on cocoa, milk and sugar were analyzed for selected heavy metals by means of flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The average concentration of Zn, Pb, Ni, and Cd was found to be 2.52 +/- 2.49, 2.0 +/- 1.20, 0.84 +/- 1.35, and 0.17 +/- 0.22 mu g/g respectively. Results indicate that cocoa-based candies have higher metal content than milk-or sugar-based candies. The daily dietary intake of metals for children eating candies and chocolates was also calculated, and results indicated highest intake of Pb and Zn followed by Ni, Cd, and Cu. Comparison of the current study results with other studies around the globe shows that the heavy metal content in candies and chocolates is lower in India than reported elsewhere. However, to reduce the further dietary exposure of heavy metals through candies and chocolates, their content should be monitored regularly and particularly for Pb as children are highly susceptible to its toxicity.
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