Concentration Levels and the Associated Health Risks of Elements in Food Crops Grown in the Neighbourhood of Minjingu Phosphate Mine, Tanzania

Mohammed, Najat K.; Nkuba, Leonid L.

doi:10.9734/csji/2017/31476

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…[19] in Beijing, China, reported health risks (HRI) of <1, indicating a relative absence of health risks associated with the ingestion of contaminated vegetables, though plants were greatly affected by heavy metals beyond limits set by USEPA and WHO. Therefore it could be concluded from the literature that, most of the studies performed at Minjingu such as Banzi [20] who dealt with radioactivity and Mohammed and Nkuba [6] investigated on metals in cereals, indicates that vegetables had not been investigated on, thus, it was worthwhile for the current study to be conducted on that matter.…”

Section: Heavy Metal In Vegetablesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Another study conducted around the power plant, China by Li, results showed that vegetable leaves contain high concentration of Hg, which collated significantly with the amount present in soils. These authors finally concluded that the long term consumption of mercury loaded vegetables would pose a health risk to the consumers [5,6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Phosphate fertilizers are extensively produced from the mine for economic development. Existing studies have shown the phosphate ore of Minjingu village contain toxic elements creating a risk to the neighboring population [6] estimated to be around 11,000 people [12]. Yet the health risk caused by consumption of vegetables has not been explored.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Health Risk and Elemental Concentrations in Minjingu Vegetables and Soils by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence

Koleleni

Tafisa

2019

AJARR

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The samples of soil and selected species of vegetables (cowpea leaves, spinach, sweet potato leaves, Ethiopian mustard and Chinese cabbages) were randomly collected from four sites, Idara ya maji, Nkaiti, Mbulungu and Mkwajuni of Minjingu village of Manyara in Tanzania. The samples were analyzed by means of wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometry to determine the heavy metal concentrations in soils and vegetables of the field study with emphasis on their health risk index (HRI) assessment. The results indicate that soils have concentration range of 142-1547 for Ca, 737-2515 for K, 2396-4748 for Si, 0-121 for P, 0-181 for Mg, 0-36 for S, 0-68 for Na, 561-942 for Al, 121-4748 for Fe, 0-80 for Mn, 0-53 for Sr, 0-37 for Cs and 0-11 for Ni in mg/kg which was above the maximum tolerable limits(MTL). Elements detected in vegetables were in the range of 2123-6122 for Ca, 747-8005 for K, 65-996 for Si, 40-348 for Mg, for Mn, 85-584 for P, 22-705 for S, 0-218 for Na, 70-835 for Fe, 23-286 for Al, 0-98 for Cs, 84-1076 for Cl and 0-13 for Ni in mg/kg. The highest heavy metal retention capability was exhibited in Cowpea leaves, Spinach and Chinese cabbages but sweet potato leaves and Ethiopian mustard has shown lower concentrations. Control site recorded the least concentration values. The HRI values for Sr, Ni and Fe in vegetables exceeded the maximum threshold limits (HRI>1) set by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The findings of this work indicates that soils and vegetables grown, particularly cowpea leaves, spinach and Chinese cabbages were extremely contaminated at levels able to pose detrimental health effects to the consumers. Therefore the consumption of cowpea leaves, spinach and Chinese cabbages should be reduced to the maximum if not abandoned. But limited quantities of Ethiopian mustard and sweet potato leaves can be taken while immediate steps are taken to reduce anthropogenic activities at the polluting site. This situation makes the regular monitoring of the grown vegetables a compulsory act.

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Section: Heavy Metal In Vegetablesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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