Geophagia although pleasurable and somewhat a necessity among pregnant women, also comes along with its own attendant problems such as exposure to potentially hazardous substances like bacteria, fungi, helminthes and ova, radioactive materials, and toxic elemental minerals in the soil depending on the geographical location. This study evaluated the potential health risk involved during the exposure of pregnant women to toxic elemental minerals via the consumption of clay as pica (geophagia). Elemental mineral analysis was carried out using Buck Scientific 210VGP Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Buck Scientific, Inc. East Norwalk, USA). Risk assessment methods were also used to ascertain the various risks factors and the overall risk level. Concentrations of the macro elements investigated were 1.38 ± 1.5, 2.40 ± 1.5, 7.74 ± 1.5, 4.01 ± 1.0, 13.24 ± 2.2 and 13.76 ± 2.1 mg/Kg for iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) respectively. While that for the micro elements were 1.63 ± 0.03 μg/Kg, 4.72 ± 0.8, 0.53 ± 0.02 and 1.85 ± 0.3 mg/kg respectively for arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni). Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Hazard Quotient (HQ), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Total Target Hazard Quotient (TTHQ) values ranged 0.611–5.44 (mg/kg Bw/day), 6.26 × 10− 4 – 106.5, 0.067–10.34 and 15 respectively. There is the likelihood of posing adverse health problems when clay samples obtained from Anfoega which is sited in the Volta region of Ghana is consumed due to the fact that the HQ’s of these elemental minerals were > 1 which points to high content of Manganese (Mn) and Nickel (Ni). It is also likely to cause adverse health problems in an individual’s life time since THQ for Arsenic, Lead and Nickel were above 1. Ultimately, the cumulative effect of these toxicants were exceedingly great (≤ 15) which implied a high level of unsafety associated with this clay. Per the results from this study, it is not safe for pregnant women to consume clay as pica since these toxic elements may cause detrimental effects on the foetus of the unborn child.

中文翻译：

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加纳伏尔塔河地区霍族孕妇食用异食癖（食道）的粘土中有毒金属污染的潜在健康风险评估

吞噬症虽然令人愉快，并且在孕妇中有一定的必要性，但也伴随着其自身的问题，例如暴露于土壤中的潜在有害物质如细菌，真菌，蠕虫和卵子，放射性物质以及土壤中的有毒元素矿物质，具体取决于地理位置。这项研究评估了通过食用粘土（异食癖）而使孕妇接触有毒元素矿物质所涉及的潜在健康风险。元素矿物分析是使用Buck Scientific 210VGP火焰原子吸收分光光度计（Buck Scientific，Inc.East Norwalk，美国）进行的。风险评估方法还用于确定各种风险因素和总体风险水平。研究的宏观元素浓度为1.38±1.5、2.40±1.5、7.74±1.5、4.01±1。对于铁（Fe），铜（Cu），锌（Zn），钾（K），镁（Mg）和钠（Na）分别为0、13.24±2.2和13.76±2.1 mg / Kg。微量元素的砷（As），锰（Mn），铅（Pb）和镍（Ni）分别为1.63±0.03μg/ Kg，4.72±0.8、0.53±0.02和1.85±0.3 mg / kg。估计每日摄入量（EDI），危险商数（HQ），目标危险商数（THQ）和总目标危险商数（TTHQ）值介于0.611–5.44（mg / kg Bw /天），6.26×10− 4 – 106.5、0.067分别为–10.34和15。当食用来自加纳沃尔特地区的安福加公司的粘土样品时，由于这些元素矿物质的HQ值大于1（这表明锰（Mn）含量较高），可能会造成不利的健康问题。和镍（Ni）。自砷，铅和镍的THQ超过1以来，它还可能在个人的生命周期中造成不利的健康问题。最终，这些有毒物质的累积作用非常大（≤15），这意味着与之相关的高度不安全性这个黏土。根据这项研究的结果，孕妇食用粘土作为异食癖是不安全的，因为这些有毒元素可能会对胎儿的胎儿产生有害影响。