Physicochemical and microbial assessment of roadside food and water samples in Lagos and Environs

Abstract

This study assessed the quality street vended food and water as well as the effects of environmental pollution on them in 3 local government areas (LGAs) representing low, medium and high income areas in Lagos State in coparison to samples collected from 5 locations in Ogun, Oyo and Osun States being previously established as places of origin of most migrants to Lagos. Street vended roasted plantain and maize as well as water samples were collected as composites from each of the sample locations. All samples were analysed for physico-chemical as well as microbiological parameters. The study revealed that roasted plantain in the low income area had the highest level of contaminants such as Pb, Cd, Zn and Fe. The lowest value was in the high income area. Lead levels ranged between 0.2 – 125 µg/g with the highest value observed at the low income, high population density and high traffic area. Cd, Zc and Fe levels also followed a similar trend in the other three States. They ranged between 0.48 – 18.3 µg/g, 2.0 -4.5 µg/g and 0.4 – 13.5 µg/g respectively. It is opined that the pollution sources for the roasted plantain and maize include those from emissions from leaded gasoline. The aerobic mesophilic organisms, mould and Staphylococcus aureus were present in all the water samples. These results imply that government and its agencies should attend to the problem of unavailability of potable water and calls for greater monitoring and control of the environment where roadside foods are prepared.