Trace elements in bottled and soft drinks in Nigeria--a preliminary study.

The levels of Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, Se and Ni were determined in bottled waters and soft drinks in Nigeria. The mean levels of the elements ranged between 0.52 microgram/l for Co and 14.8 micrograms/l for Mn in the bottled waters and 3.10 micrograms/l for Co and 82.4 micrograms/l for Mn in the soft drinks, respectively. Comparison of the elemental concentrations in the water samples with WHO limits showed the mean levels of all the elements investigated in all the samples were below the WHO maximum allowable concentrations for drinking waters.