ASSESSMENT OF NUTRIENTS AND TOXIC MINERALS LEVELS IN RICE AND BEANS SAMPLES BY INSTRUMENTAL NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS AND ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROPHOTOMETRY

The aim of this study was to assess the nutrients and toxic minerals levels in rice and beans by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Four varieties of rice and six of beans were bought from markets in Jigawa, Kano and Kebbi all in North-Western Nigeria in 2019 were investigated under this study. INAA was used for determination of multiple nutrients and toxic minerals and AAS was used to determine Pb and Cd The range obtained for each of the nutrients and toxic minerals in the rice samples analysed were Pb (3.91 to 5.00), Cd (0.0067 to 0.0233), La, (1.19 to 6.38), Cr (3.31 to 8.09), Co (0.00 to 0.456), Mn (13.5 to 45.4), Cu (2.08 to 19.9), Zn (66.5 to 146), Fe (250 to 700), Sm (0.169 to 0.605) and V (0.27 to 4.49), Mg (709 to 2061), Al (498 to 8636), Cl (151 to 482), Ca (672 to 2037), K (2789 to 4161), Na (517.5 to 2645), Br (0.54 to 4.41) and Sc (0.22 to 1.2) mg/Kg. while for the beans samples the range were: Pb (0.00 – 0.82), Cd (0.01 – 0.02), La (0.06 - 1.11), Cr (2.08 to 4.3), Co (0.19 to 18), Mn (16.1 to 48.1), Cu (0.000 to 5.15), Zn (26.0 to 60.0), Fe (0.000 to 420), Sm (0.006 to 0.132), La (0.060 to 1.11) and V (0.00 to 1.98), Mg (192 to 1998), Al (94.0 to 2799), Cl (152.7 to 195), Ca (624 to 1945), K (8522 to 13970), Na (314 to286), Br (1.33 to 2.98) and Sc (0.018 to 0.23) mg/Kg. The levels of the nutrients and toxic minerals were higher in the rice samples compared to the beans except for Co and Mn. Mean concentration of all the nutrients and toxic minerals analysed were within the limits set by FAO/WHO, except for Pb and Cr which were above the recommended limit. Lead (Pb) has been implicated to cause severe damage to the kidneys, nervous system, brain and reproductive system, whereas, chromium (VI) has been associated with lung cancer.