The concentrations of nine residual metals in some Jamaican foods were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique. Cadmium concentration was highest in yellow yam (0.21 mg/kg). Sweet potato had the highest concentrations of lead (0.31 mg/kg), arsenic (0.70 mg/kg) and mercury (0.35 mg/kg). Samples from Grove Place exceeded the regulatory limits of 0.1 mg/kg for cadmium, lead and arsenic and 0.05 mg/kg for mercury. Significant correlations were found between soil and agricultural produce concentrations for cadmium and lead (r(2) ≥ 0.5). These results suggest that the elements were available in soluble forms in the soil for absorption by food crops.
Cadmium is an environmental pollutant of increasing worldwide concern. It has been reported to be high in the soil where food crops are grown in some parishes of Jamaica. Surprisingly, no adverse effect of cadmium has been reported among the Jamaican population. However, phytic acid has also been shown to be high in some food crops grown in Jamaica. In this study, we evaluated the effects of phytic acid (1 %) and exercise on the metabolism of cadmium (5 mg cadmium/kg body weight) in rats. Five groups of rats were fed as follows: rats fed control diet, control diet supplemented with cadmium and subjected to exercise, control diet supplemented with phytic acid plus cadmium and subjected to exercise, control diet supplemented with cadmium plus phytic acid, and control diet supplemented with cadmium only. The animals were fed for 4 weeks and then sacrificed. Blood samples were collected for some biochemical assays. Percentage weight loss (28.42 %) was greatest in the group that had cadmium supplement only. The group fed control diet supplemented with cadmium only displayed increased liver enzymes and electrolytes except for the significant decrease in bicarbonate compared to other test groups. Similarly, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid were increased in the group fed cadmium supplement only compared to other test groups. Total cholesterol trended downwards in the test groups compared to control. These observations suggest that consumption of diet high in phytic acid with relatively high physical activity may be protective against the adverse effects of cadmium.
Capabilities of two phosphate-rich organic wastes to quench phosphorus (P) fixation in a stored highphosphorus-fixing tropical bauxite overburden were examined in a field experiment. Prior grinding and ensiling of shrimp shell waste facilitated increased solubility and hence phosphorus fixation quenching in the soil. Normal plantavailable P concentrations were exhibited by the overburden for up to 4 months after application despite the cultivation and harvesting of plants in the treated beds. Ten-year-old, stored overburden treated with ensiled shrimp shell silage, or chicken manure exhibited P levels of 1.0 and 1.1%, respectively, 4 months after treatment application. This represents a small excess over normal concentrations of free P in the overburdens. These P levels dropped to 0.055 and 0.060%, respectively, after 8 months. The capacity of the soil to fix phosphorus was thus rapidly ''filled'' with an excess of P in the overburden. However, increased P fixation in the second 4-month period was attributed to the inherently high levels of Ca 2? in the ground. Therefore, amelioration based on quarterly applications promises a long-term corrective for P-fixing in stored bauxite overburdens.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.