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ISSN : 2456-8643

Title:
ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL RESIDUES IN CASSAVA FLOUR (LAFUN) DRIED BY ROAD-SIDE AND MARKETED IN DIFFERENT MARKETS IN IBADAN METROPOLIS

Authors:
Bankole, Ruth Temidayo , Adedokun, Samuel Ayotunde , Oyedeji, Marufat Bukola , Alarape, Ahmed Bolaji

Abstract:
Cassava flour, generally consumed in Africa as food, is a major source of carbohydrate. Its common drying technique in Nigeria is sun drying for cost optimization whereby the flour (in powder form) is spread by the roadside for moisture content reduction process. This research was carried out at 10 major traffic highways in Ibadan to study the level of trace element pollution introduced through this drying method, identifying the sources of the pollutants mainly as automobile exhaust emission (major) and street dust (minor).The samples were collected three times at a week interval. Thirty samples were collected altogether, it was mixed, digested and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) technique to determine the concentration of four elements ( Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn). The results show that even though, cassava flour is a rich source of the essential and beneficial minerals required for healthy living, it’s drying technique exposes it to the excessive intake of some of these heavy metals which could be hazardous to human health, such as cancer. Alternative drying techniques are recommended

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