title: An analysis of human exposure to trace elements from deliberate soil ingestion and associated health risks.
abstract: Fifty-seven samples of soils commonly ingested in South Africa, Swaziland, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Togo were analyzed for the concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) and their bioaccessibility in the human gastrointestinal tract. Bioaccessibility values were used to calculate daily intake, and hazard quotient of each trace element, and chronic hazard index (CHI) of each sample. Carcinogenic risk associated with As and Ni exposure were also calculated. Mean pseudo-total concentrations of trace elements in all samples were 7.2, 83.3, 77.1, 15.4, 28.6, 24.9, 56.1, 2.8, and 26.5 mg/kg for As, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb, respectively. Percent bioaccessibility of Pb (13-49%) and Zn (38-56%) were highest among trace elements studied. Average daily intake values were lower than their respective reference doses for ell elements except for Pb in selected samples. Samples from DRC presented the highest health risks associated with trace element exposure with most of the samples having CHI values between 0.5 and 1.0. Some samples had higher than unacceptable values of carcinogenic risk associated with As and Ni exposure. Results indicate low trace element exposure risk from ingesting most of the soil samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida 1710, Roodepoort, South Africa.
authors.forename: Veronica M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Ngole-Jeme
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Research and Innovation, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province 0950, South Africa.
authors.forename: Georges-Ive E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Ekosse
authors.affiliation: Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Teaching and Learning, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
authors.forename: Sandile P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Songca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D004435:Eating; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D013541:Eswatini / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010842:Pica / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014037:Togo / Q000453:epidemiology; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D014131:Trace Elements