EVALUATION OF HEAVY METAL IN SOME SELECTED BREAD SAMPLE FROM MAIDUGURI METROPOLITAN COUNCIL. MAIDUGURI

This study assessed the concentrations of selected heavy metals—lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), and iron (Fe)—in bread samples collected from five bakeries within Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, Nigeria. Bread is a widely consumed staple food, and the presence of toxic metals poses significant public health concerns due to their carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic effects. Five bread samples were randomly collected, prepared, digested, and analyzed using ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry following standard laboratory procedures. The results showed that the concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Hg were below detectable limits across all samples, while Zn, Cr, and Fe were present at very low levels ranging from 0.12–0.29 mg/kg, 0.01–0.03 mg/kg, and 0.13–0.33 mg/kg, respectively. All detected concentrations were significantly lower than World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits. These findings indicate that bread produced within Maiduguri Metropolis is safe for consumption with respect to heavy metal contamination. The study recommends continuous monitoring and strict environmental controls to ensure sustained food safety and prevent potential future contamination.