Levels of Major and Minor Elements in Some Commercial Baby Foods Available in Libya

摘要

Nine (9) selected Infant formula from the Libyan market were analyzed by Atomic Emission Spectrophotometry (MP-AES) to assess the level of some heavy metals (Na, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Mg, Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni and As) in them. The concentrations of heavy metals in the samples ranged from 150.98 to 670.91 μg.g-1, 90.41 to 360.85 μg. g-1, 150.98 to 420.08 μg. g-1, 1.47-4.67μg.g-1, 1.5–2.5 μg.g-1, 10.34 to 20.14 μg. g-1, 0.01-0.08 μg.g-1, 0.013 to 0.032 μg.g-1, 0.013 to 0.022 μg.g-1, 0. 25 to 0.73 μg.g-1, 0.012 -0.025 μg.g-1, for Na, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Mg, Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni and As respectively. The result of elemental analysis indicates that the order of abundance of metals in the infant food as follow Na > Ca>K>Mg>Fe>Cu>Ni>Cr>Cd>As>Pb. levels of the metals in the samples were less than acceptable limits in foods as specified in international guidelines.