Revista de bioanálisis y biomedicina

Determination of Some Heavy Metals in Barley Locally Grown for Brewing and It’s Malt in Ethiopia

Abstract

Tadele Eticha and Ariaya Hymete

The concentration of some heavy metals was determined in barley locally grown for brewing and its malt in Ethiopia. The samples were digested in nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide, and analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry equipped with deuterium arc background corrector. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn in barley, and the levels of Cu, Mn and Zn in malt were above the maximum permissible limits in cereal grains set by Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization except Cd in barley grains from West Arsi Zone. Even though Cd and Pb were found in barley grains, they were below the limits of detection in malt. The result of the survey confirmed that the Cd and Pb content in locally malted barley do not pose a risk to consumers’ health though the bio-important metals could do. However, the levels of heavy metals in locally grown barley and its malt need to be regularly monitored.