The rising abnormal behavior after consumption of energy drink (ED) and herbal mixture (HM) necessitates the need to evaluate their health risk and toxicity. This study determines the physiochemical properties (TDS, pH, Conductivity), concentrations of As and heavy metals in commonly consumed herbal and energy drinks to assess the health risk associated with their consumption. A total of 18 ED and 12 HM were purchased from two major markets in South-West, Nigeria. The physiochemical properties were determined using standard methods, while metal contents were determined using Inductive Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrophotometer (ICP-OES). These levels were compared with permissible levels set by W.H.O and health risk was estimated by calculating the Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR). The result of physiochemical properties were as follows: pH ≤ (5.53, 6.09), TDS ≤ (95.2, 846) and EC ≤ (194, 787). The concentrations of As and heavy metals (mg/L) in ED and HM were ≤; As (0.006, 0.001), Cd (0.008, 0.007), Co (0.007, 0.004), Cr (0.008, 0.052), Cu (0.061, 0.007), Fe (15.0, 7.28), Mn (2.03, 2.29), Ni (0.010, 0.004), Pb (0.016, 0.005) and Zn (8.86, 4.02). Levels in ED were higher than HM except for Cr and Mn and all were within the permissible levels except Co, Fe, Mn and Zn in some ED and HM samples. The HQ and total HQ for all the metals in ED and HM are less than 1 except Mn and Zn while, total HI was 5.21, higher than 1.00 limit. The carcinogenic risk of Cd and Pb in most of the HM were above the acceptable limit. Caution needs to be taken in the consumption of these drinks especially HM as long-term consumption can pose health risks to consumers.

Determination of the physicochemical properties and metallic contaminants in commonly consumed herbal and energy drinks in South-West, Nigeria

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