Biological Evidence 2018, Vol.8, No.2, 6-20
16
al., 2015). The values in this study were lower than the values previously reported in ready to eat food (Iwegbue et
al., 2013a), sweets, peppermints and chewing gum in Nigeria (Iwegbue et al., 2015a).
The estimated target hazard quotients of selected trace metals from the consumption of 0.3 g of seasonings and
culinary condiments for infants, school children, under graduate and adults in Nigeria is presented in Table 6.
Trace metals such as Zn, Cr and Cd had THQ <1 indicating no health concern. THQ of Ni were <1 apart from
some instances of school children and infants intake. Cd had THQ >1 in most of the seasonings and culinary
condiments. Apart from GVP and TCP under infant consideration, the THQ were <1 for Cu. Furthermore, under
all the scenarios, THQ of Mn were <1 apart from few instances, while THQ of Co were >1 in most of the samples.
It is worthy to note that the interpretation of THQ values is binary (viz: 1<THQ>1) (Iwegbue et al., 2013a; 2015a).
Where instances of THQ>1 indicates potential health concern (Hague et al., 2008; Naughton and Petroczi, 2008a;
b; Iwegbue et al., 2013a; 2015a; Kigigha et al., 2017) but not a risk measure (Hague et al., 2008; Iwegbue et al.,
2013a; 2015a). THQ values are additive and not multiplicative, that is, value of 2 is larger but not tenfold at a
THQ of 2 (Hague et al., 2008; Iwegbue et al., 2013a; 2015a). The values of THQ among the various concentration
were in the order; adults< under graduates < school children < infants. This trend have been reported in a health
risk assessment of sweets, chewing gums and peppermints by Iwegbue et al. (2015a) that indicated that THQ were
in the order; children > adult. The
∑
from the ingestion of 0.3 g of seasonings and culinary condiments for
infants, school children, under graduate and adults is presented in Figure 1. The values were >1 in all cases
indicating reason for health concern. Furthermore,
∑
values showed that Cd and Co were the major source.
In few instances Ni, Co and Mn showed minimal contribution. Iwegbue et al. (2013a) reported Cd, Ni and Co as
the major contributor of
∑
values exceeding 1.
Table 6 Estimated target hazard quotients of selected trace metals from the consumption of 0.3 g of seasonings and culinary
condiments for infants, school children, under graduate and adults
Code
Category
Cr
Pb
Cd
Ni
Cu
Zn
Co
Mn
ACF
Ad
0.004
0.007
3.171
0.324
0.026
0.008
12.964
0.021
UG
0.005
0.008
3.415
0.348
0.028
0.008
13.962
0.022
SC
0.009
0.014
6.343
0.647
0.051
0.015
25.929
0.042
In
0.020
0.033
14.800
1.510
0.120
0.036
60.500
0.097
GVP
Ad
0.002
0.003
0.729
0.240
0.231
0.106
3.643
0.657
UG
0.002
0.004
0.785
0.258
0.249
0.114
3.923
0.707
SC
0.004
0.007
1.457
0.480
0.463
0.212
7.286
1.313
In
0.010
0.015
3.400
1.120
1.080
0.494
17.000
3.064
FYJFS
Ad
0.003
0.009
2.871
0.456
0.055
0.012
18.750
0.031
UG
0.003
0.010
3.092
0.492
0.059
0.013
20.193
0.033
SC
0.005
0.019
5.743
0.913
0.109
0.025
37.500
0.061
In
0.012
0.043
13.400
2.130
0.209
0.058
87.500
0.143
KGBSP
Ad
0.003
0.009
2.857
0.508
0.036
0.014
21.750
0.058
UG
0.004
0.010
3.077
0.547
0.039
0.015
23.423
0.062
SC
0.007
0.018
5.714
1.016
0.073
0.038
43.500
0.116
In
0.015
0.043
13.333
2.370
0.170
0.065
101.500
0.270
KGCF
Ad
0.003
0.007
3.600
0.504
0.050
0.018
14.250
0.066
UG
0.003
0.007
3.877
0.542
0.054
0.019
15.346
0.072
SC
0.006
0.013
7.200
1.007
0.101
0.036
28.500
0.133
In
0.015
0.030
16.800
2.350
0.235
0.083
66.500
0.310
KGMS
Ad
0.002
0.006
2.014
0.476
0.038
0.014
10.714
0.058
UG
0.002
0.007
2.169
0.512
0.040
0.015
11.538
0.063
SC
0.003
0.012
4.029
0.951
0.075
0.027
21.428
0.116
In
0.007
0.029
9.400
2.220
0.175
0.063
50.000
0.627
MCS
Ad
0.002
0.008
2.571
0.506
0.013
0.013
16.824
0.051
UG
0.002
0.009
2.769
0.546
0.014
0.014
18.115
0.055
SC
0.004
0.016
5.143
1.011
0.026
0.026
33.643
0.102
In
0.010
0.037
12.000
2.360
0.060
0.060
78.500
0.237
