Analytical/ Environmental Chemistry
Associate Professor / Reader
Chemistry
At the Chemistry department office
Appointment on Visitation important
# | Certificate | School | Year |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Ph.D (Analytical/ Environmental Chemistry) | Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan. | 2015 |
Levels of Metal Concentration in Energy Drinks
Introduction: Energy drinks are beverages which contain large doses of Caffeine and other stimulants like ephedrine. Energy drinks may contain as much as 80 mg of Caffeine with stimulating properties which can increase the heart beat rate and blood pressure, dehydrate the body, and can also prevents sleep. Some heavy metals have also been implicated in the situation like dehydration of body system, increase in heart pumping and Blood pressure.
Aim: Determination of presence of essential metals (Sodium, Calcium, Zinc, copper, Potassium and Magnesium), as well as toxic metals (Cadmium, Chromium, Aluminum, lead).
Methodology: Ten (10) Samples of different brands of energy drink: Red bull, power horse, matador, energizing red, Rates, Lucozade boost (bottle and pick), Max, Burn, and Rox were analyzed for Trace metals (Zinc, Cadmium, Chromium, lead, Iron and Copper) using Atomic Absorption spectrophotometry while Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and potassium were analyzed using Flame photometer.
Result: The result of metals analyzed ranges as follows calcium (2.54 – 253) mg/L, Zinc (1.01 – 3.25) gm/L Magnesium (0.53 – 45.8) mg/L, Sodium (79.0 – 672) mg/L, Cadmium (0.01 – 0.08) mg/L, Chromium (0.10 – 0.12) mg/L, lead (0.21 – 0.25), potassium (3.70 – 74.0) mg/L, iron (0.28 – 14.4) mg/L and Copper (0.17 – 0.88) mg/L. The Nutritive metals: Sodium, Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium were present, Na was found above the set of standard (allowable range) by organization of Nigeria (SON), while Mg and Ca were observed below the standards.
The heavy metals Cd, Cr, Pb, were also present at varying concentration. Pb was observed above the allowable level in Red Bull with Pb content of 2.25 gm/L against 0.1 gm/L (SON) standard. Therefore, there is need for monitoring of consumption of energy drinks citizen as well as enforcement so as to safeguard health.
MAJOLAGBE ABDULRAFIU is a Associate Professor / Reader at the Department of Chemistry
MAJOLAGBE has a Ph.D in Analytical/ Environmental Chemistry from Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan.