Determination of Heavy Metals Levels in Palm Oil obtained from Ankpa, Olamaboro and Dekina Local Government Areas of Kogi State, Nigeria

This study aimed to determine the concentration of cadmium, chromium and lead in palm oil obtained from three local government areas in Kogi State, Nigeria (Ankpa, Olamaboro and Dekina). Forty-Eight (48) palm oil samples were purchased randomly from four (4) different market sellers from each council wards in Kogi State. The samples were digested and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The order of abundance of the heavy metals analyzed in palm oil follows this order: Pb> Cr > Cd. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) of palm oil were recorded as: AnkpaPb(13.34±1.3), Cr(12.63±1.1), Cd(0.89±0.2), Dekina Pb(15.21±1.4), Cr(12.99±1.3), Cd(0.99±0.2) and OlamaboroPb(11.67±1.3), Cr(9.58±1.3), Cd(1.18±0.2) respectively which all exceeded the permissible limit set by WHO/FAO.Values of the physicochemical properties showed that the saponification value, iodine value, and peroxide value were all in good agreement with the FAO/WHO recommendation standards except free fatty acid and pH which were above the recommended value. The results obtained from this study suggest that the palm oil samples analyzed are detrimental to human health in terms of the metals of interest analyzed. Hence, awareness campaign must be created on the production of oil, storage and probably the rate of consumption