Resumo

DANIEL, T. O. et al. Characterization and comparative analysis of metallic inclusions in dry, paste and wet ground maize (zea mays) forms and its health implication on humans. Rev. mex. fis. [online]. 2021, vol.67, n.2, pp.269-275.  Epub 16-Fev-2022. ISSN 0035-001X.  https://doi.org/10.31349/revmexfis.67.269.

This study investigates metallic inclusions in ground maize forms of dry, paste and wet using a domestic grinding machine and its health implications to humans. With progressive maize processing using the grinding machine, metals are introduced as contaminants into ground maize due to wear and tear of the grinding discs and other machine parts. Maize samples of 1 kg each were grinded in wet, paste, and dry forms. The metallic inclusions were extracted from the ground maize forms using magnetization, sedimentation and decantation. The quantity of metallic extractions were quantified using an Electronic weighing balance and the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) analysis and were characterised using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Optical Emission Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy iron filings were discovered to be the dominant metallic inclusion present in the various food forms and also in the grinding disc with 88.48% by weight in the grinding disc. The extracted metallic inclusions is 15.7 mg/kg, 19.6 mg/kg and 26.8 mg/kg for dry, paste and wet ground maize form, respectively. The EDS result confirms iron as the dominant metallic inclusion with trace amounts of silicon and carbon in the ground maize samples. From the SEM analysis of grain size, the dry, paste and wet ground maize had 17, 27 and 36 µm, respectively. When in excess, the iron filing metallic inclusions from the ground maize accumulates in body organs exceeding the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard limit of 15 mg/kg since there is no physiological mechanism to eliminate excess iron, thereby leading to health complications. The accumulated iron in the heart causes increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, siderosis and hemochromatosis in the liver leading to hepatoma -the primary cause of cancer of the liver among others-. Elevated levels of free iron also predisposed individuals to high risk of bacterial and viral infections leading to death.

Palavras-chave : Maize; metal inclusion; iron filings; scanning electron microscopy; energy dispersive spectroscopy; optical emission spectrometer; health implication.

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