DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS IN SLIMMING TEAS FOUND IN ZARIA USING ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY

Authors

Keywords:

Slimming tea, Heavy metal contamination, Atomic absorption spectrometry, Herbal safety, Public health

Abstract

Heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) pose significant health risks when present in food or herbal products due to their toxicity and cumulative nature. This study aimed to determine the concentration of selected heavy metals in commercially available slimming teas in Zaria, Nigeria, using validated atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Four popular tea brands were collected using systematic random sampling. Samples were digested with aqua regia and analyzed via flame AAS (for Zn, Fe, Cu) and graphite furnace AAS (for Pb, Cd). Mean concentrations (ppm) were Cu: 0.0001; Cd: 0.0043; Pb: 0.1218; Fe: 0.3023; Zn: 0.0037. All values were below WHO limits except for Fe, which slightly exceeded the permissible level in two samples. Standard deviation and method validation (LOD/LOQ, recovery rates, and blank controls) were reported. Results suggest potential chronic health implications from cumulative exposure, underscoring the need for regulatory monitoring of herbal slimming products.

Dimensions

Ahammed, G. J., Wu, Y., Wang, Y., Guo, T., Shamsy, R., & Li, X. (2023). Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (Egcg): A Unique Secondary Metabolite with Diverse Roles in Plant-Environment Interaction. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 209, 105299.

Al-oud S (2003) Heavy metal contents in tea and herb leaves. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 6: 208-212.

Althomali, R. H., Abbood, M. A., Saleh, E. A. M., Djuraeva, L., Abdullaeva, B. S., Habash, R. T., Najafi, M. L. (2024). Exposure to Heavy Metals and Neurocognitive Function in Adults: A Systematic Review. Environmental Sciences Europe, 36(1), 1-16.

Bansal, H. (2023). Heavy Metal Toxicity: A Comprehensive Review of Forms, Exposure Routes, Toxicokinetics, and Effects on Infants. International Journal of Medical Toxicology & Legal Medicine, 26(1and2), 13-24.

Chan K, (2003). Some aspects of toxic contaminations in herbal medicines. Chemosphere, 52, 1361-1371

Divrikli U, Horzun N, Soylak M, Elci L (2006). Trace heavy metal contents of some spices and herbal plants from West Anatolia, Turkey. Int. J Food Sci. Technol, 41: 712-716

Ebrahimi, M., Khalili, N., Razi, S., Keshavarz-Fathi, M., Khalili, N., & Rezaei, N. (2020). Effects of Lead and Cadmium on the Immune System and Cancer Progression. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, 18, 335-343.

Ebrahimi, R., Ebrahimi, M., & Shakeri, M. (2023). Mitigating the Adverse Effects of Lead and Cadmium Heavy Metals-Induced Oxidative Stress by Phytogenic Compounds in Poultry. Poultry, 2(2), 235-251.

Elbagermi M. A, Alajtal A. I, Edwards H.G.M, (2017). Quantitative determination of heavy metal concentrations in herbal teas marketed in various countries including Libya. AJRB, 1(1): 1-10, 2017; Article no. AJRB.37996.

Garba Z. N and Galadima A, (2015). Quantitative assessment of heavy metals from selected tea brands marketed in Zaria, Nigeria. Journal of Physical Science, 26, 43–51

Goncharuk, E. A., & Zagoskina, N. V. (2023). Heavy Metals, Their Phytotoxicity, and the Role of Phenolic Antioxidants in Plant Stress Responses with Focus on Cadmium. Molecules, 28(9), 3921.

Han W. Y, Liang Y. R, Yang Y. J, Ma L. F, Raun J. Y, (2006). Effect of processing on the Pb and Cu pollution of tea in Chinese. J Tea Sci., 26: 95-101.

Hunt J. R (1994). Bioavailability of Fe, Zn and race minerals for vegetarian diets. Am. J. Clin Nutr.,

Izah, S. C., Inyang, I. R., Angaye, T. C., & Okowa, I. P. (2016). A Review of Heavy Metal Concentration and Potential Health Implications of Beverages Consumed in Nigeria. Toxics, 5(1), 1.

Karim G, Hasanzadeh M. K, Nili A, Khashayarmanesh Z, Samiei Z, et al. (2008). Concentrations and health risk of heavy metals in tea samples marketed in Iran. Pharmacologyonline, 3: 164-174

Kazeminia, M., Mehrabi, A., Khorrami, R., Rezaeifar, M., Morasa, H. K., & Mahmoudi, R. (2023). Heavy Metal and Their Adverse Effects: Sources, Risk, and Strategies to Reduce Accumulation in Tea Herb-a Systematic Review. Carpathian Journal of Food Science & Technology, 15(4).

Kazi T. G, Kazi G. H, and Ansari T. P (1999). Bio-recycling of trace and toxic elements in different vegetables from sludge samples used as agricultural fertilizer. ACGC chem. Res. Comm., 9: 15-56.

Nannar, A. R., Raosaheb, S. S., & Salunkhe, K. S. (2023). Review on Weight Loss Management by Herbal Therapy. Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, 14(5), 28-34.

Nicoleta M, Muntean E, Creta C, Duda M, (2013). Heavy metals in some commercial herbal teas. ProEnvironment 6, 591-594

Scutarașu, E. C., & Trincă, L. C. (2023). Heavy Metals in Foods and Beverages: Global Situation, Health Risks and Reduction Methods. Foods, 12(18), 3340.

Wen-si Z, Ting R, Li-Jiao Z, (2015). Determination of Pb (Lead), Cd (Cadium), Cr (Chromium), Cu (Copper), and Ni (Nickel) in Chinese tea with high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Journal of food and drug analysis.

Yu, C., Wan, X., Li, D., & Guo, X. (2023). Reduction of Obesity and Hepatic Adiposity in High-Fat Diet-Induced Rats by Besunyen Slimming Tea. Heliyon, 9(6).

Published

28-09-2025

How to Cite

DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS IN SLIMMING TEAS FOUND IN ZARIA USING ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY. (2025). FUDMA JOURNAL OF SCIENCES, 9(10), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-0910-2298

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 10 (2025): FUDMA Journal of Sciences - Vol. 9 No. 10

Section

Research Articles
Copyright & Licensing

Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Abdullahi Vatsa, I. A. Bello, N. N. Garba, A. A. Soje, A. M. Abbas, A. Suleiman

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS IN SLIMMING TEAS FOUND IN ZARIA USING ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY. (2025). FUDMA JOURNAL OF SCIENCES, 9(10), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-0910-2298

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>