Lead levels of certain consumer products in Nigeria: a case study of smoked fish foods from Abeokuta

The total lead levels of 252 indigenously processed smoked fish foods exposed to the highways were determined via atomic absorption spectrometry. Metal content was monitored at various periods of the day. A fraction of the sample population was investigated for the effect of atmospheric exposure while the remaining portion was examined for the impact of processing technique on the fish metal levels. Quantitative evaluation of the vehicular traffic density per hour (VTD/h) of the near-by highway to each market was conducted. Data generated from both the VTD/h and the fish lead levels were subjected to Pearson correlations and regression analyses. Results indicate contamination of these fish foods by lead with mean values varying from 8.0 ± 0.8 to 12.5 ± 1.6 mg/kg The food processing technique accounted for up to seven times increase in fish lead levels. The average VTD/h ranged from 1510 ± 198 to 1752 ± 344. Results also indicate a certain degree of relationship between the vehicular traffic and the lead levels. Positive correlation coefficients (r) ranged from 0.336 to 0.867. The investigated systems conjoin to give fish lead contents of more than thirty folds above the stipulated safety standard for lead level in fish foods. The study provides additional data on lead pollution in Nigeria. This connotes a potential threat to the health, security and safety of such food items to the unsuspecting consumer.