Trace elements in Libyan Cereals: Estimation of Daily Intakes of Cobalt, Chromium, Molybdenum and Selenium

Abstract

Elements such as cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo) and selenium (Se) are essential elements for human being, these elements occur in cereals which are important food in Libyan population diet. The present study was carried out to determine concentrations of trace metals and evaluate the potential health risk of metal to humans via consumption of cereals. Cereal samples from Libya were digested using nitric acid and by microwave digester then trace elements concentrations in cereal samples were determined by using ICPMS instrument. Daily intakes of Co, Cr, Mo and Se from all cereals consumption were 19.4, 93, 261 and 34.7 μg/day, respectively. The RDA was used to estimate daily intakes of these elements. Daily intake of Mo exceeded of RDA by 2 fold. More investigations should be done for daily intake of trace elements in Libyan population for cereals and other food consumption.