Heavy metal contamination and health risk assessment of mechanically milled delicacy called fufu

AbstractContamination of food by heavy metals is a concern as consumption of contaminated food is one of the most likely human exposure routes to metals. Fufu is a delicacy in Ghana consumed mainly by the Akans. Human exposure to some heavy metals (Cr, Fe, Zn, Mn and Ni) through mechanically processed fufu consumption was analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer and ascertaining consumer awareness of potential exposure by questionnaire administration. A total of 30 milled and un-milled fufu samples (cassava and plantain) were sampled from Bomso, Kotei, Ayeduase, Ayigya and Kentikrono, all within Kumasi. The results showed that Fe and Zn levels after milling were elevated in the range: 2.816–7.297 and 0.753–7.529 mg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of Fe and Zn were below the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) permissible limits except Zn concentration at Bomso. Cr, Mn and Ni were below the detection limit (0.05). Hazard quotients and indices were less than the US Environmental Protection Agency’s permitted level of one, indicating no possible harm to consumers. Findings from the questionnaire administration indicated a complete lack of knowledge on consumer exposure due to the food processing method.

Download Full-text

Determination of Selected Heavy Metal Concentrations in Water Spinach (Ipomea aquatica)

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.1025.279 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1025 ◽

pp. 279-283

Author(s):

Wan Noni Afida Ab Manan ◽

Nursyamimi Zulkurnain

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Health Effects ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Optical Emission ◽

World Health ◽

Emission Spectrometry ◽

Water Spinach ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Food And Agriculture Organization ◽

Health Organization

Vegetables are essential in human diet but unfortunately it may also contribute to heavy metals’ consumption. High consumption of water spinach may cause harmful health effects due to contamination by heavy metals. Two different parts of water spinach (Ipomea aquatica), namely: i) leaves and, ii) stem were collected from markets around Bandar Pusat Jengka and UiTM area to determine and compare selected metals’ (Mn, Cu, Zn and Pb) concentrations to the standard permissible limit set by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO). The samples were prepared by wet digestion using a mixture of HNO3 and H2O2 and then analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Heavy metals’ concentration ranges were recorded as follow; 0.130 – 9.410 mg/kg for Mn, 0.120 – 0.330 mg/kg for Cu, 0.200 – 2.470 mg/kg for Zn and 0.003 – 0.210 mg/kg for Pb. Concentration of Mn was higher than other metals. All concentrations of selected metals were below the maximum standard set by FAO/WHO except for leaves in sample A. Nevertheless, it should be noted that consuming the I. aquatica for a long time with excess amount of heavy metals may contribute to health effects.

Download Full-text

HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF ARSENIC AND OTHER HEAVY METALS FROM VEGETABLES GROWN IN BANGLISH VILLAGE, BANGLADESH

International Journal of PIXE ◽

10.1142/s0129083512400372 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 22 (03n04) ◽

pp. 287-298 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

JEBUNNAHAR KHANDAKAR ◽

MD. SHAFIQUL ISLAM ◽

TSUYOSHI NAKAMURA ◽

KOICHIRO SERA ◽

TOSHIHIRO TAKATSUJI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Health Risks ◽

Leafy Vegetables ◽

World Health ◽

Potential Health ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Food And Agriculture Organization ◽

Tube Wells ◽

Significant Pathway ◽

Health Organization

Intake of heavy metals from contaminated agricultural products represents a significant pathway for human exposure. Banglish village in the Comilla district is one of the most devastated arsenic (As) contaminated areas in Bangladesh. This study focus whether As is solely responsible for causing arsenicosis or whether some other heavy metals have a synergistic effect on the toxicity of As . The study sampled various leafy and non-leafy vegetables and groundwaters were analyzed by using the Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) method. The results revealed that both the vegetables and the groundwater were highly contaminated with As and lead (Pb) , although the contents in the vegetables and the groundwater varied depending on species and tube wells. As and Pb concentrations in the edible part of all tested vegetables and in groundwater exceeded the permissible intake levels of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The findings inferred that the inhabitants of the study area are experiencing health risks resulting from the intake of As and Pb , and that Pb might have a synergistic role with As by aggravating the arsenicosis. The potential health risks due to Pb is being reported for the first time in Bangladesh.

Download Full-text

Titanium, Zinc, Lead, Chromium, Cadmium, Cobalt and Copper Concentrations in Vegetables Produced using Wastewater in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas of Nairobi City County, Kenya

Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology ◽

10.9734/cjast/2021/v40i131240 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 102-118

Author(s):

David K. Rono ◽

Jacob W. Wakhungu

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Spinacia Oleracea ◽

Absorption Spectrometry ◽

Leafy Vegetables ◽

World Health ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Food And Agriculture Organization ◽

Health Organization ◽

Titanium Zinc

Vegetables are rich sources of vitamins, minerals and fibres. Ingestion of vegetables contaminated with heavy metals is one of the main routes through which heavy metals enter the human body and may cause diseases. In this study we investigated the concentrations of titanium, zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium, cobalt and copper in the commonly produced vegetables viz. Brassica sp.,Spinacia oleracea, Amaranthus sp. and Solanum sp. using wastewater in Ruai ward, Nairobi City County, Kenya. Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used to estimate the levels of these metals in vegetables sampled from five plots in the study area. The concentration status for each heavy metal in the samples was compared with the permissible levels for corresponding heavy metals set by the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization. Our findings indicated the presence of Ti, Zn, Cr and Cu in all the vegetable samples and their concentrations varied considerably, while Pb, Cd and Co were not detected in most samples. The presence of heavy metals in vegetables was in the order of Pb > Cd > Co > Cu > Cr > Zn > Ti. We concluded that vegetables produced using wastewater had elevated levels of the investigated heavy metals at the time of analysis beyond FAO/ WHO safe limits for corresponding metals in leafy vegetables.

Download Full-text

TRENDS

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.10.5.619 ◽

1952 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 619-623

Keyword(s):

United Nations ◽

The United States ◽

World Health ◽

United States Government ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Equatorial Africa ◽

Food And Agriculture Organization ◽

The United Nations ◽

Health Organization ◽

Emergency Fund

IT APPEARS timely to call attention again to the work and objectives of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. Particularly noteworthy is the trend to use this fund more and more in efforts to help other nations help themselves. Thus the mass attack on tuberculosis, yaws and malaria are, it is hoped, bringing those diseases into proportions where their continued control can be more effectively managed. Similarly, increasing attention is being given to the training of professional and technical personnel. The plans and long-range purpose of the UNICEF have recently been described by Maurice Pate, Executive Director of the fund: "Five years ago, in May 1947, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund received its first pledge of support, a contribution of $15,000,000 from the United States Government. A number of other pledges and contributions soon followed, and procurement of supplies was begun. By the middle of 1948, those supplies were reaching several million children. "Those early beginnings were in the minds of many of us at the recent meeting of the Fund's 26-nation Executive Board (April 22-24), for on that occasion UNICEF's aid was extended to the only remaining area of need in which it had not been operating— Africa, south of the Sahara. "In the Belgian Congo, French Equatorial Africa, Liberia, Togoland, the Cameroons and West Africa, UNICEF, side by side with the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization, will soon be working with the governments and people on a number of child-health projects. The largest of these is to be an attack on kwashiokor, a dietary deficiency disease that affects thousands of young children in these regions.

Download Full-text