title: Accumulation of Heavy Metals and Metalloid in Foodstuffs from Agricultural Soils around Tarkwa Area in Ghana, and Associated Human Health Risks.
abstract: This study was carried out to assess the extent of heavy metals and metalloid accumulation from agricultural soils to foodstuffs (viz, M. esculenta (cassava) and Musa paradisiaca (plantain)) around thirteen neighboring communities within Tarkwa, Ghana; and to estimate the human health risk associated with consumption of these foodstuffs. Concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were measured with an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer and mercury analysis was done using a mercury analyzer. From the results, 30% of cassava samples collected, contained higher concentrations of Pb when compared to Codex Alimentarius Commission standard values. Bioconcentration factor indicated that Ni had higher capacity of absorption into food crops from soil than the other heavy metals. For both children and adults, the target hazard quotient (THQ) of Pb in cassava in communities such as Techiman, Wangarakrom, Samahu, and Tebe (only children) were greater than 1, which is defined as an acceptable risk value. This indicated that residents could be exposed to significant health risks associated with cassava consumption.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. borteysam@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nesta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bortey-Sam
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. shouta-nakayama@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shouta M M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. wofakmann@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Osei
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akoto
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. Y_ikenaka@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp.|Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa. Y_ikenaka@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikenaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13, Legon, Ghana. jfobil@ug.edu.gh.
authors.forename: Julius N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Fobil
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. elvixbaid@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Elvis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baidoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. hazuki.mizukawa@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hazuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mizukawa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. ishizum@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishizuka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D002648:Child; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D058955:Metalloids / Q000032:analysis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D058955:Metalloids; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: bioconcentration factor; foodstuff; health risk; metalloid; metals; target  hazard quotient