The geochemistry of geophagic material consumed in Onangama Village, Northern Namibia: a potential health hazard for pregnant women in the area

Kambunga, Selma N.; Candeias, Carla; Hasheela, Israel; Mouri, Hassina

doi:10.1007/s10653-019-00253-2

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…One of the known key factors for geophagic materials consumption is Fe content [57]. Studies by [13,19] reported Fe supplementation has a motivation for pregnant women to practice geophagy in Namibia and in other African countries and that moderate consumption of Fe-rich geophagic materials is indicated as a supplement. In this study, geophagic materials showed higher contents than RDD (30-60 mg/kg) [73] for women and adolescents.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Geophagy can also occur by involuntary ingestion, mostly associated with children and their deliberate hand-to-mouth activities, but can also occur by pica behavior, i.e., voluntary ingestion of soil materials [8,9]. Pica behavior has been reported worldwide, e.g., in Indonesia [10] and Turkey [11], although the highest prevalence occurs in African and tropical latitudes countries [12][13][14]. Childhood and pregnancy, especially early pregnancy, which is the critical period of organogenesis [15], are the periods when pica behavior would most likely occur [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geophagic Materials Characterization and Potential Impact on Human Health: The Case Study of Maputo City (Mozambique)

2022

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This study aims to characterize and estimate risk assessment associated with geophagic materials consumption in Maputo city (Mozambique). Samples were collected in extraction mines, unprepared and prepared ones, and in Maputo markets. Fractions < 2 mm (total consumed material) and <63 μm were analyzed to determine pH, EC, OM, chemical composition (XRF), and mineral phases present (XRD). The results revealed pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, and electrical conductivity ranging from 13 to 47 μS/cm in mine unprepared and prepared samples, while 264–465 μS/cm in sampled sold in markets. Organic matter content was <2.76%, except in one sample (8.14%), suggesting a potential risk of containing bacteria. Textural analysis revealed that sand-size particles were more representative in all samples (57.2–93.02%). Mineralogical phases identified in the consumed sample were ranked quartz (>60%) > Fe oxides/hidroxides > phyllosilicates (micas and kaolinite) > feldspars, suggesting a risk of dental enamel damage and perforation of the sigmoid colon. The chemical concentration of some elements was higher than recommended daily dose, suggesting a potential risk. However, geophagic materials’ chemical composition does not pose a carcinogenic risk.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geophagic Materials Characterization and Potential Impact on Human Health: The Case Study of Maputo City (Mozambique)

2022

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“…This study enabled the discovery that the consumed materials contain high concentrations of several toxic elements including arsenic and mercury, which are detrimental to the health of consumers and unborn babies. 6,7 • The uranium and radon gas concentration and their impacts on human health with reference to a case study from abandoned gold mine tailings in the West Rand area, Krugersdorp, South Africa. This study demonstrated that mine tailings in the area have high uranium concentrations (up to 149.76 ppm) and high levels of radon (up to 1068.8 Bq/m 3 ) -more than 10-fold the recommended value of 1 mSv/y proposed by the National Nuclear Regulator of South Africa and the International Commission on Radiological Protection.…”

Section: Health In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical Geology and its relevance in Africa

Mouri¹

2020

S. Afr. J. Sci.

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Medical Geology is a relatively new discipline that is growing in importance. It is the field of science that deals with the impacts (positive or negative) of the geo-environment (including factors, processes and materials) on the health of humans and the ecosystem in general. 1 It is based on multi-, cross-and inter-disciplinary approaches bringing together experts from various fields of science including epidemiology, toxicology, geoscience, the environmental disciplines and public health. Only by understanding the geological history and background of our environment will we be able to contribute towards a better and deeper insight into the range of natural hazards that can (directly or indirectly) affect our health and that of the ecosystem. This understanding may result in the mitigation or minimisation of impacts and in preventing some of the widespread and serious health problems, and may even save lives. For these reasons, Medical Geology is a highly significant field of research that contributes to the wellbeing of our community in line with the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development. 2 Recently completed research projectsSo far, the projects within this initiative have mainly dealt with establishing a relationship between environmental geochemistry/mineralogy and human and animal health in specific African countries. More than 30 research 2

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“…Geophagy (also known as pica) is the intentional practice of eating earth or soil and is a habit that spans all continents of the world 9 . Universally, geophagia is known to be practiced mostly by young adults and pregnant women 10 and, as a result, most geophagia studies have focused on pregnant women 10‐15 . The prevalence of geophagia consumption in Africa varies considerably within and across countries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 9 Universally, geophagia is known to be practiced mostly by young adults and pregnant women 10 and, as a result, most geophagia studies have focused on pregnant women. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 The prevalence of geophagia consumption in Africa varies considerably within and across countries. In women, in 2009, Ogbonnaya reported a prevalence of 63% in Kenya, 16 while in Tanzania Kawai reported a prevalence of 29%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geophagia and risk of squamous cell esophageal cancer in the African esophageal cancer corridor: Findings from the ESCCAPE multicountry case‐control studies

Narh

Dzamalala

Mmbaga

et al. 2021

Intl Journal of Cancer

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Geophagia, the intentional practice of consuming soil, occurs across the African esophageal cancer corridor, particularly during pregnancy. We investigated whether this practice is linked to endemic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in this region. We conducted ESCC case-control studies in Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya. Cases were patients with incident histologically/clinically confirmed ESCC and controls were hospital patients/visitors without digestive diseases. Participants were asked if they had ever eaten soil (never/regularly/pregnancy-only). Odds ratios (OR) are adjusted for sex, age, tobacco, alcohol, country, religion and marital status. Overall, 934 cases (Malawi 535, Tanzania 304 and Kenya females 95) and 995 controls provided geophagia information.Among controls, ever-geophagia was common in women (Malawi 49%, Kenya 43% and Tanzania 29%) but not in men (10% Malawi, <1% Tanzania). In women, ESCC ORs were 1.25 (95% CI: 0.70, 2.22) for regular versus never geophagia and 0.88 (95% CI: 0.64, 1.22) for pregnancy-only versus never. Findings were stronger based on comparisons of cases with hospital visitor controls and were null using hospital patients as controls. In conclusion, geophagia is too rare to contribute to the male ESCC burden in Africa. In women, the practice is common but we did not find consistent evidence of a link to ESCC. The study cannot rule out selection bias masking modest effects. Physical effects of geophagia do not appear to have a large impact on overall ESCC risk. Research with improved constituent-based geophagia exposure assessment is needed.

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The geochemistry of geophagic material consumed in Onangama Village, Northern Namibia: a potential health hazard for pregnant women in the area

Cited by 11 publications

References 70 publications

Geophagic Materials Characterization and Potential Impact on Human Health: The Case Study of Maputo City (Mozambique)

Geophagic Materials Characterization and Potential Impact on Human Health: The Case Study of Maputo City (Mozambique)

Medical Geology and its relevance in Africa

Geophagia and risk of squamous cell esophageal cancer in the African esophageal cancer corridor: Findings from the ESCCAPE multicountry case‐control studies

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