Toxic metals and health risks in commercially available packed fruit juice products for children in Gondar city, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022

Fruit juice is a popular non-alcoholic beverage and is consumed by children in developing countries. But long-term consumption can lead to chronic accumulation of toxic metals, posing a carcinogen risk. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of toxic metals and health risk in commercially available packed fruit juice products for children in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia, in 2022. Eighty packed fruit juice samples were examined, which contain varying concentrations of toxic metals. Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni ranged from 0.01–0.1, 0.0003–0.008, 0.01–0.04, and 0.0025-0.08 mg/l, respectively. The rank of target hazard quotient (THQ) and cancer risk (CR) were Pb > Cd > Cr > Pb and Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd, respectively. High concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Ni were present in strawberry and pineapple nectar, whereas mango juices were at a low level. Fruit juices stored in canned cartons and glass were characterized by an elevated level of Cd, Pb, and Ni as compared with products with tetra packs and plastic. THQ > 1 in Pb indicates that metals may pose a potential health risk for children.