Levels of heavy metals in drinking water, cosmetics and fruit juices from selected areas in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

dc.creatorMahugija, John A.M.
dc.date2018-09-13T10:57:36Z
dc.date2018-09-13T10:57:36Z
dc.date2018
dc.date.accessioned2021-05-03T13:19:55Z
dc.date.available2021-05-03T13:19:55Z
dc.descriptionHeavy metals were determined in samples of drinking water, cosmetics (nail polish, lip glosses and hair dye) and fresh fruit juices in Dar es Salaam. The samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) after digestion with concentrated acids, filtration and dilution. Lead, zinc and iron were detected in the water samples and the concentration ranges were below detection limit (BDL) to 0.114, 0.01 to 1.47 and 0.027 to 0.39 mg/L, respectively, whereas cadmium was not detected. The concentrations of lead in 70.83% of the samples exceeded the WHO permissible limit, implying that the water in most of the areas was not suitable for human consumption. Lead, zinc, and cadmium were detected in all the cosmetics at concentrations ranging from 6.6 to 37400, 21.5 to 2600, and up to 0.25 mg/kg, respectively. Most of the concentrations of lead in cosmetics exceeded the EU/US permissible limits. The continued use of products containing such heavy metals may increase the body intake of the metals and cause harmful effects. Only copper was detected in the fruit juices and the water used for their preparations at concentrations ranging from 0.008 ± 0.003 to 0.215 ± 0.014 mg/L, which were below the WHO permissible limit.
dc.identifierMahugija JAM 2018 Levels of heavy metals in drinking water, cosmetics and fruit juices from selected areas in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Science 44 (1), 1–11.
dc.identifier0856-1761
dc.identifier2507-7961
dc.identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/4883
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/4883
dc.languageen
dc.publisherCollege of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam
dc.subjectHeavy metals, drinking water, tap water, cosmetics, fruit juice, Tanzania
dc.titleLevels of heavy metals in drinking water, cosmetics and fruit juices from selected areas in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
dc.typeJournal Article

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