@article{CRSIJ26000151,
                  author = {Okidhika Clinton Umebhidhi, Abule Esther Chinyere},
                  title = {Heavy metal contamination (Pb, Cd, As, Cr, Ni) in commercially refined vegetable oils in rivers state, Nigeria: a market survey of major brands in port harcourt},
                  journal = {Cosmo Research and Science International Journal},
                  year = {2025},
                  volume = {1},
                  number = {6},
                  pages = {240-252},
                  issn = {3108-1584},
                  url = {https://cosmorsij.com/published/CRSIJ26000151.pdf},
                  abstract = {Heavy metal contamination of edible vegetable oils poses significant food safety and public health risks, particularly in industrialised regions characterised by widespread environmental pollution. This study evaluated the concentrations of five heavy metals, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni), in eight commercially refined vegetable oil brands (palm olein, soybean, sunflower, and groundnut oil) purchased from major markets in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Metal analysis was performed by microwave-assisted acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Human health risk assessment was conducted using the USEPA (2023) framework, incorporating estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), and margin of exposure (MOE) calculations for both adult and child consumer populations. Lead concentrations ranged from 0.018 to 0.142 mg/kg, cadmium from 0.006 to 0.048 mg/kg, arsenic from 0.004 to 0.032 mg/kg, chromium from 0.012 to 0.086 mg/kg, and nickel from 0.022 to 0.114 mg/kg. Four brands exceeded Codex Aliment Arius and European Commission permissible limits for Pb. Groundnut oil brands recorded the highest total heavy metal burden. Health risk assessment showed adult HI values all below 1.0, but child HI exceeded 1.0 for five of eight brands (maximum 2.503), indicating non-negligible cumulative non-carcinogenic risk. ILCR values for as and Cd remained within the USEPA acceptable range (10⁻⁶–10⁻⁴). These findings call for urgent regulatory intervention, enhanced refinery quality control, and regular market surveillance of heavy metal contamination in edible oils in Nigeria.},
                  keywords = {Heavy metals, vegetable oil, lead, cadmium, arsenic, ICP-OES, health risk assessment, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria},
                  month = {May}
        }