title: Heavy metal content in various types of candies and their daily dietary intake by children.
abstract: Children are vulnerable to heavy metal contamination through consumption of candies and chocolates. Considering this representative samples (69) of candies and chocolates based on cocoa, milk and sugar were analyzed for selected heavy metals by means of flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The average concentration of Zn, Pb, Ni, and Cd was found to be 2.52 ± 2.49, 2.0 ± 1.20, 0.84 ± 1.35, and 0.17 ± 0.22 μg/g respectively. Results indicate that cocoa-based candies have higher metal content than milk- or sugar-based candies. The daily dietary intake of metals for children eating candies and chocolates was also calculated, and results indicated highest intake of Pb and Zn followed by Ni, Cd, and Cu. Comparison of the current study results with other studies around the globe shows that the heavy metal content in candies and chocolates is lower in India than reported elsewhere. However, to reduce the further dietary exposure of heavy metals through candies and chocolates, their content should be monitored regularly and particularly for Pb as children are highly susceptible to its toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar, 125001, India.
authors.forename: Parmila
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Devi
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar, 125001, India.
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bajala
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar, 125001, India.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, 160014, India.|Centre for Public Health, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160025, India.
authors.forename: Suman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mor
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India. khaiwal@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Khaiwal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ravindra
mesh_terms: D002182:Candy / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords: Candies and chocolate; Dietary intake; Health risks; Heavy metals; Toxicity