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other·public health, epidemiology, nutrition, micronutrients, minerals·PMC10403411

Geochemical composition and potential health risks of geophagic materials: an example from a rural area in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

Environmental Geochemistry and Health · 3 authors, 2 centres

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TL;DR

The analysis found that the samples contained concentrations of essential elements and potentially toxic elements that often exceeded recommended daily intake or tolerable upper limits, suggesting potential non-carcinogenic health hazards for consumers.

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Methods included X-Ray Fluorescence for major elements, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry for trace elements, and the Physiologically Based Extraction Test (PBET) to simulate human gastrointestinal conditions and determine bioaccessible fractions. The study concludes that frequent consumption of these materials may pose non-carcinogenic health risks, including organ damage and micronutrient imbalances.

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public health

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ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10403411

Geochemical composition and potential health risks of geophagic materials: an example from a rural area in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

Environmental Geochemistry and Health

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ABSTRACT

Abstract Geophagy is a common practice among rural population of the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality area in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Although, the practice might be beneficial to the health of the consumers, its negative effects could overshadow the positive effects and might lead to detrimental health issues. The present work sought to investigate the geochemical composition as well as pH and organic matter (OM) content of geophagic materials commonly consumed in the study area. Furthermore, assessment of the potential health risk of the materials on geophagic individuals was also considered. Twelve samples were collected in the study area and analysed by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma—Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for major and trace elements composition. The results showed higher concentrations of non-essential elements (e.g., As, Cr, Pb) than the proposed recommended daily standards intake, suggesting a potential health risk. The alkaline nature (pH 6.80 to 9.22) of the studied samples might affect the bioacessibility of some essential elements. Furthermore, the OM content (> 0.7%) observed in some of the studied samples may retain pathogenic micro-organisms detrimental to health. Although As and Cr presented a low bioaccessible fraction (< 16.0%), health risk assessment revealed that their concentrations represented a hazard (HQ > 1) and might induce non-carcinogenic health threats to geophagic individuals. Based on the geochemical analysis, pH and OM content as well as health risk assessment findings, the studied geophagic materials are not considered suitable for human consumption. The practice should therefore be discouraged amongst the population in the study area to avoid possible detrimental health issues. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10653-023-01551-6. Keywords: Geophagic materials, Bioaccessible fraction, Health risk assessment, South Africa

CITATION EXPORT

Hassina Mouri, Retshepile Evelyn Malepe, Carla Candeias. Geochemical composition and potential health risks of geophagic materials: an example from a rural area in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-023-01551-6

AUTHORS

3 · 2 CENTRES

Hassina Mouri, Retshepile Evelyn Malepe, Carla Candeias

1Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
2GeoBioTec Research Unit, Geosciences Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal