Health Risk Assessment of Selected Heavy Metals in Imported Herbal Teas Consumed in Dutsin-ma Town Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

Mixed-ligand Herbal teas are widely consumed for their perceived health benefits, but their contamination with toxic metals poses potential risks to human health. This study aimed to determine the concentration of selected toxic metals –such as lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) in commonly consumed herbal teas samples. Twenty samples of popular herbal teas were randomly purchased from herbal tea vendors in Dutsin-Ma town of Katsina state located in northern Nigeria and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) and Micro-plasma emission spectrometer. The evaluation indicated that the level of heavy metals varied between the various brands of the herbal teas, though according to the estimated daily intake of the heavy metals iron (Fe) was found to be more concentrated in the samples while lead (Pb) is the least. In the order Fe>Zn>Cd>Pb>Cr the average mean of dose intake of metals were 0.657, 0.118, 0.0014, 0.0009 0.0023 m/kg/day respectively. The value of the hazard index (HI) and Target hazard quotient (THQ) were <1. The result was compared with permissible limits set by the regulatory agencies such as the WHO and FDA.  These implies that consumption of such herbal risk carried a modest risk of heavy metals exposure and has minimal negative health effect, while they are good source of iron to human.