Abstract
Cookware manufactured through informal processes often uses unregulated raw materials and lacks quality control, which may result in elevated toxic metal levels. This study assessed the concentrations of manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) in informally manufactured cookware from Saki, southwest Nigeria. It also evaluated metal leaching into water during cooking and examined associated moulding materials and soils to identify potential sources of contamination. Four cookware samples, six moulding materials, and seventeen soil samples (including one background sample) were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Metal concentrations in cookware samples were generally high, with mean values (mg/kg) of Mn (375), Pb (136), Cr (26.9), Cd (1.70), and Ni (181), exceeding FAO/WHO acceptable limits for food-contact materials. Moulding materials showed extremely elevated Mn concentrations, while soils near manufacturing sites contained Pb and Cd above NESREA guideline values. Leaching tests conducted by boiling water for up to three hours showed metal concentrations below detection limits (0.01 mg/L), suggesting minimal short-term exposure risks. However, the high total metal content in cookware and production materials indicate potential public health concerns. This study provides baseline data linking informal manufacturing practices to cookware quality and site contamination in Nigeria.