Heavy Metal (Pb, Cd, Hg and As) Content of Some Pineapples Juice Produced in Informal Market in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Aims: The objective of this study was to determine the level of micropolluants contamination (mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic) handcrafted pineapple juices, packaged in recovery bottles and sold on the outskirts of the city of Abidjan.

Study Design: Samples were collected from street vendors in four districts of Abidjan city (Marcory, Treichville, Cocody and Koumassi).

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Central Food Hygiene Laboratory and Agribusiness between December 2019 and June 2020.

Methodology: 32 samples collected were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Results: It appears that traces of the few metallic micropollutters were found in pineapple juices at varying rates with sometimes exceeding the maximum values recommended for lead in 75% of the pineapple juices analyzed. Considering the municipalities, 100% of the juices collected from vendors in the commune of Cocody have arsenic concentrations exceeding the maximum regulatory values. Overall, Daily Exposure Doses (DDE) (0.024 10-4 mg/kg bw of mercury, 0.345 10-4 mg/kg bw of lead, 0.001 10-3 mg/kg pc of cadmium and 0.5 10-4 mg/kg bw of arsenic) are lower than the Previsional Tolerable Dose (PTD).

Conclusion: Therefore, can the risk be eliminated for the general population? While the concentrations of metallic micropolluants found in pineapple juices remain below the thresholds for mercury and cadmium, those of lead and arsenic are high, increasing the risk of adverse effects.