Contamination by Cadmium and Lead in Sugarcane and Its Derived Products in Ecuador

María Alcívar, Edwin Vinueza, Beatriz Pernía (), Xavier Álvarez-Montero and Alejandro Gallardo
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María Alcívar: Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de Guayaquil, Av. Raúl Gómez Lince s/n y Av. Juan Tanca Marengo, Guayaquil 090150, Ecuador
Edwin Vinueza: Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de Guayaquil, Av. Raúl Gómez Lince s/n y Av. Juan Tanca Marengo, Guayaquil 090150, Ecuador
Beatriz Pernía: Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de Guayaquil, Av. Raúl Gómez Lince s/n y Av. Juan Tanca Marengo, Guayaquil 090150, Ecuador
Xavier Álvarez-Montero: Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Hda. Zoila Luz, vía Sto. Domingo-Quevedo km 24, Santo Domingo 230118, Ecuador
Alejandro Gallardo: Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de Guayaquil, Av. Raúl Gómez Lince s/n y Av. Juan Tanca Marengo, Guayaquil 090150, Ecuador

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: (1) Background: This research examines the contamination levels of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in sugarcane and its derived products in Ecuador, addressing the significant issue of heavy metal pollution in the country’s agricultural lands. The primary aim of this study was to quantify the concentrations of Cd and Pb in sugarcane and the products derived from it, which are available to the Ecuadorian market. (2) Methods: Samples of the most-cultivated sugarcane varieties in the country, including ECU-01, ECU-02, Cenicaña (CC85-92), and Ragnar, were obtained. To ascertain the source of contamination in the derived products, the brands of panela, white sugar, and brown sugar that are most widely consumed in the country were selected. An atomic absorption spectrophotometry analysis was performed with a graphite furnace. (3) Results: All cane varieties presented Cd and Pb contamination. The variety with the highest levels of heavy metals was Ragnar, with average values of 4.32 mg kg −1 of Pb and 0.15 mg kg −1 of Cd. In the derived products, Pb was found to exceed the maximum limits stipulated in national and international regulations (0.5 mg kg −1 ) in panela (2.3 mg kg −1 ) and white sugar (1.6 mg kg −1 ) sold by one of the brands. (4) Conclusions: It was found that lead (Pb) contamination is directly linked to the use of contaminated sugarcane as a raw material, along with bleaching agents.

Keywords: food safety; heavy metals; Ragnar; sugar (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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