Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

INAA and AAS of different products from sugar cane industry in Pakistan: Toxic trace elements for nutritional safety

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) have been used to determine As, Br, Hg, Sb and Se in combination with atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) as a complementary technique for the quantification of Cd and Pb in jaggery, brown sugar, white sugar and molasses. All sugar cane products were collected from the local sugar cane industry of Pakistan. The highest concentration of these potentially toxic elements was quantified in molasses; however, molasses together with jaggery, brown sugar and white sugar contains trace amounts of all of these elements. Due to very low concentration of Cd it could only be detected in molasses. To evaluate the percentage contribution of these elements in the sugar cane products to the weekly recommended values, intakes on weekly consumption of 100 g of each item have also been calculated which follow the pattern Br>Se>Pb>Hg>As>Sb. The elevated Br contents may be attributed to the use of Br-containing chemicals for fumigation; however, these contents are well within the tolerance levels. The estimated weekly intake of all toxic elements is very low indicating that sugar cane products can be safely ingested as part of the diets.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M. F. Hussain, S. Anwar, Z. Hussain, Intern. Res. J. Fin. Eco., Issue 4 (2006) 70.

  2. N. M. Akbar, M. A. Khwaja, Report Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad, Pakistan, 2006.

  3. M. Shafiq Ur Rehman, Gain Report USDA Foreign Agricultural Services, Global Agricultural Information Network, Gain Rept. No. PK7008, 2007.

  4. S. Ahmad, S. Waheed, A. Mannan, I. Fatima, I. H. Qureshi, J. AOAC Intern., 77 (1994) 11.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. S. Waheed, M. Wasim, A. Rahman, S. Ahmad, Geostand. Newsl., 25 (2001) 137.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. S. Waheed, S. Ahmad, J. H. Zaidi, A. Rahman, I. H. Qureshi, M. Saleem, Radiochim. Acta, 89 (2001) 425.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. National Research Council, Recommended Dietary Allowances 10, National Academy Press, Washington DC, 1989, p. 195.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Recommended Dietary Nutrient Intakes, Health and Welfare Canada, Committee for Revision of Nutritional Sciences, Nutr. Revs., 33 (1975) 147.

    Google Scholar 

  9. A. Rahman, S. Waheed, S. Ahmad, I. H. Qureshi, Nucleus, 37 (2000) 223.

    Google Scholar 

  10. C. Steinmaus, K. Carrigan, D. Kalman, R. Atallah, Y. Yuan, A. H. Smith, Environ. Health Perspect., 113 (2005) 1153.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. C. H. Tseng, J. Environ. Sci. Health, C25 (2007) 1.

    Google Scholar 

  12. S. Pavelka, Physiol. Res., 53 (2004) S81.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. S. Pavelka, A. Babicky, J. Lener M. Vobecky, Food Chem. Toxicol., 40 (2002) 1041.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. M. Wilhelm, J. Wittsiepe, R. Schrey, U. Budde, H. Idel, Sci. Total Environ., 285 (2002) 11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. A. Bernar, R. Lauwerys, Experientia, 40, No. 2 (1984) 143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. P. Vracko, J. Tuomisto, J. Grad, E. Kunseler, Fact Sheet No. 4.4, European Environment and Health Information System (ENHIS), World Health Organization, CODE: RPG4_Food_Ex1, 2007.

  17. R. De Winter-Sorkina, M. I. Bakker, G. Van Donkersgoed, J. D. Klaveren, Center for Substances and Integrated Risk Assessment (SIR), National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, RIVM Report 320103001, 2003, p. 1.

  18. H. E. Ratcliffe, G. M. Swanson, L. J. Fischer, J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 49 (1996) 221.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. C. Rubio, T. G. Iglesias, C. Revert, J. I. Reguera, A. J. Gutierrrez, A. Hardisson, J. Agric. Food Chem., 53 (2005) 6543.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. M. Schuhmacher, M. A. Bosque, J. L. Domingo, J. Corbella, Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 46 (1991) 320.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. M. Haldimann, A. Blanc, V. Dudler, Food Addit. Contamin., 24 (2007) 860.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Atlanta, GA, U.S., Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 1992.

  23. U. Tinggi, Toxicol. Letters, 137 (2003) 103.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. S. B. Goldhaber, Toxicol. Pharmacol., 38 (2003) 232.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Division, Directorate of Science, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, P. O. Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan

    S. Waheed, S. Rahman & K. P. Gill

Authors
  1. S. Waheed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Rahman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. P. Gill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Waheed.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Waheed, S., Rahman, S. & Gill, K.P. INAA and AAS of different products from sugar cane industry in Pakistan: Toxic trace elements for nutritional safety. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 279, 725–731 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-008-7332-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-008-7332-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation