Determination some of heavy metals in traditional food in north Africa Libya and Egypt

Abstract EN

Thirty samples of ready traditional food were used in the present study, collected randomely from five different local markets (Faba bean, Falafel and Koshari), Abbasiya area, Nasr city, Ramses area, Ghamra area and Heliopolis at Cairo governorate.

Also, five different traditional foods (Mbcabach, Couscous and Bazin) from local markets, In industrial area, Alhoreeh area, Almokhtar area, Albelad area, and Tobruk center at Tobruk city.

The content of heavy metals, Pb, Cd and Al in traditional food samples were determined using atomic orption spectrometry (AAS).

The results showed a significant variation in the concentration of these metals in Faba beans, Falafel and Kosharicollected from different market at Cairogov.

The highest Pb level in Faba beans (0.74 mg/Kg) was found in Ramses sample.

Aluminium (Al) content was recorded a high significant concentration in all traditional food samples and the highest concentration of Al was detected in Falafel (2.1 mg/kg) collected from Ghamra area.

The results showed that the heavy metalcontents in Mbcabach, Couscous and Bazinthat collected from Tobruk city.

The highest Pb and Al levels in two Bazin samples (0.61 and 1.09 mg/kg) were in samples from Almokhtar and Alhoreeh sites.

All samples of traditional food (Faba bean, Falafel and Koshari) collected from Egyptainlocal markets and (Mbcabach, Couscous and Bazin) collected from Libyan local markets were free of cadmiumcontamination.