Investigation of Lead and Cadmium Contamination Levels in Selected Canned Tomato Paste Products Sold in the Libyan Market

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination in food products is a major environmental and public health concern due to the toxic and bioaccumulative properties of these elements. This study aimed to determine lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in canned tomato paste products available in the local market of Derna, Libya, and to evaluate their compliance with permissible limits. Twelve commercially available samples representing different brands and countries of origin were collected from local markets and coded STB01–STB12. The samples were prepared using wet acid digestion with concentrated nitric acid and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Lead concentrations ranged from 0.007 to 0.094 mg/L, while cadmium concentrations ranged from 0.001 to 0.090 mg/L. All samples showed lead concentrations below the WHO/FAO permissible limit of 0.1 mg/L. However, three samples exhibited cadmium concentrations exceeding the recommended limit of 0.05 mg/L. The elevated cadmium levels may be associated with environmental contamination, raw materials, processing conditions, or packaging materials. The findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring and periodic heavy metal analysis of canned food products to ensure quality control and consumer safety.