Abstract:
This study investigates the heavy metals content presents in locally produced Palm Kernel Oil in
Osun State, Nigeria. 16 samples were collected from four major factories in four towns in the study
area. Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) was used for the concentration of the heavy metals
analysis in the samples. The results show the contents of the heavy metal present were 0.022,
0.018, 0.090, 0.071, 0.166 and 0.010 ppm for Cd, As, Fe, Zn, Cu and Pb, respectively. The range
of measured concentration of heavy metal contents in the palm kernel oil varies within the same
factory which may be due to the fact that the production processes and most especially the source
of the palm kernel used by the factories and nature of the soil where the palm tree is planted
varied. The mean concentration of Cd, Zn, As, Fe and Pb were below the bio-recommended limit
published by joint FAO/WHO. Only Cu is well above the permissible limit.
