Central Philippine University

HEAVY METALS IN SEA SALT, SEAWATER SOURCE AND IODIZED SALT LOCALLY FOUND IN ILOILO, PHILIPPINES

HEAVY METALS IN SEA SALT, SEAWATER SOURCE AND IODIZED SALT  LOCALLY FOUND IN ILOILO, PHILIPPINES

 Jun Ozbert M. Haguisan, Ann Marie P. Alguidano and Isah Lou G. Nocal

Central Philippine University

 

Abstract

Eating food contaminated with heavy metals could lead to poisoning, long term health problem and even death. One common substance needed for food preparation is salt. Salt can be mined as rock salt or harvested in the sea by evaporating the sea water. Salt can contain heavy metals. This study aimed to determine quantitatively the cadmium, manganese, lead and copper content of sea salt, sea water source and iodized salt. The sea salt and sea water samples were taken from four locations in Iloilo which have salt industry. Iodized salt samples were purchased locally from different grocery stores located in the city of Iloilo. The cadmium content was beyond the allowable limits in both sea salt, sea water source and iodized salt set by DENR, CODEX and WHO. Manganese in sea salt exceeded the allowable limits. Lead exceeded the allowable levels in sea salt and some in sea water source while lead was not detected in iodized salt. Copper was above the allowable limits in sea water source and only on Site C sea salt sample while the iodized salt did not exceed the limits for copper set by DENR, CODEX and WHO.