QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF POTASSIUM BROMATE AND HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF BREAD SAMPLES FROM FIVE SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN KATSINA SOUTH SENATORIAL ZONE

In 2003, NAFDAC which is the regulatory body concerned with the regulation of drugs, foods and chemicals in Nigeria banned the use of Potassium Bromate in bread because it poses a risk to human health and has been classified as type 2B class of carcinogen.. In this study, twelve breads were obtained from different bakeries from five selected local governments (Musawa, Matazu, Kafur, Malumfashi and Funtua) in Katsina South Senatorial Zone. Qualitative and quantitative analyses indicated that, all the bread samples contain Potassium Bromate in quantities that exceed the limit recommended by NAFDAC. The concentration of the bromate in the samples were spectrophotometrically determined. Three bread samples are registered by NAFDAC while the remaining nine are not registered. The amount of potassium bromate in the bread ranges from 1.48 – 5.35µg/g which significantly exceeded the permissible limit of 0.02 mg/kg recommended by US Food and Drug Agency (FDA). Health Risk of Potassium Bromate consumption was also assessed, Estimated Daily Intake, Estimated Short Term Intake, Chronic Hazard quotient and acute Hazard quotient were calculated. It is therefore concluded that, exigent measure is required by the regulatory bodies to ensure that there is strict compliance to the ban of the use of potassium bromate as bread additive.