Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Kumasi, Ghana.
Department of Materials Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Environ Monit Assess. 2021 Aug 30;193(9):609. doi: 10.1007/s10661-021-09373-8.
Trace metals contamination has recently been a major issue due to its damaging effects on public health and environmental receptors. This study focussed on the health risk assessment of trace metals (As, Pb, Cr, and Ni) associated with the direct intake of some selected food crops (namely cocoyam and plantain) at Abuakwa South Municipal, Ghana. The food crops and soil samples were selected randomly from three reclaimed mined sites and one non-mining site in the study area. Results from the trace metal concentration analyses in the soil samples showed that As, Cr, and Ni were above the control. The daily intake of metals (DIM), target hazard quotient (THQ), and carcinogenic risk (CR) assessments of health risks accompanied by the continuous ingestion of the selected food crops polluted through these trace metals were evaluated. 0.23 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg, 0.11 mg/kg and 0.02 mg/kg, 0.78 mg/kg and 0.65 mg/kg, and 0.23 mg/kg and 0.09 mg/kg were recorded for As, Cr, Ni, and Pb in that order in the cocoyam and plantain, respectively. The As and Pb concentrations in the food crops were above the WHO recommended limits. This implies that individuals within the vicinity are exposed to high levels of As and Pb through food intake which could result in varying health implications. The DIM and THQ for the studied trace metals were below their permissible limits suggesting that there is a tolerable non-carcinogenic adverse health risk level for adults and children within the studied area. In addition, the lifetime probability of contracting cancer by ingesting Ni, Pb, and Cr in plantain grown in the study area is high. It is recommended that regular monitoring of these trace metals in food crops be carried out in preventing their excessive accumulation.
痕量金属污染最近是一个主要问题，因为它对公众健康和环境受体有破坏性影响。本研究集中于加纳阿布阿夸南地区一些选定的食用作物（即芋和大蕉）直接摄入相关痕量金属（砷、铅、铬和镍）的健康风险评估。在研究区域内，从三个回收矿区和一个非矿区随机选择了这些食用作物和土壤样本。土壤样本中痕量金属浓度分析的结果表明，砷、铬和镍含量均高于对照。对通过这些痕量金属污染的选定食用作物的持续摄入所伴随的金属日摄入量（DIM）、目标危害系数（THQ）和致癌风险（CR）评估进行了评估。分别为 0.23mg/kg 和 0.05mg/kg、0.11mg/kg 和 0.02mg/kg、0.78mg/kg 和 0.65mg/kg、0.23mg/kg 和 0.09mg/kg。这意味着附近的个体通过食物摄入接触到高水平的砷和铅，这可能会对健康产生不同的影响。研究中痕量金属的 DIM 和 THQ 均低于其允许限值，这表明研究区域内的成年人和儿童存在可容忍的非致癌性不良健康风险水平。此外，在研究区域种植的大蕉中，镍、铅和铬的终生致癌概率很高。建议定期监测食用作物中的这些痕量金属，以防止其过度积累。
