Analysis of Arsenic and Nutrients in homemade brews and raw materials

The nitrate-N levels were generally below the maximum contamination levels of 50 mg/l set by the WHO. In the raw materials the levels were relatively high. 105 out of 180 samples analyzed for nitrite had levels above the maximum contamination levels of 0.03 mg/l level for water. Phosphate-P were also found to be high in the homemade brews, 102 out of 180 samples analyzed had levels above the maximum contamination levels of 2.2 mg/l for water. The levels of nitrate levels in raw materials used in the preparation of the homemade alcoholic beverages were generally higher than the MCL of 5 mg/kg and the LOD of 8 mg/kg; Nitrite levels in the raw material were higher than the MCL of 2 mg/kg and the LOD of 0.6 mg/kg, but lower than the MCL of 5 000 mg/kg for phosphates. These levels of nitrate, nitrite and phosphate in the sample areas exceeded the maximum levels recommended by the World Health Organization. The levels of arsenic were found to be generally below the maximum contamination levels of 0.05 mg/L set for water. The Kenya Bureau of Standards did not have standards levels for arsenic in the local brews and alcohols.

Autorentext

Jeremiah Odhek Masime holds a MSc and Bed in Science from Kenyatta University. He is currently an Analytical Chemistry lecturer at the Technical University of Kenya and also a PhD at the same university. He published 4 papers.