ABSTRACT

The presence of metal contaminants in agricultural soils and subsequent uptake by food crops can pose serious human health risk. In this study, we assessed the levels of toxic metals – arsenic, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc – in soils and some edible root tuber crops from two gold mining and two non-mining communities in Ghana to evaluate the potential human health risks associated with exposure to these metals. Concentrations of the metals in 154 soil and edible root tuber samples were analyzed using field portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometer prior to confirmation by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Bioaccessibility of the metals was determined using an in vitro physiologically based extraction technique. Concentrations of the metals were generally higher in the gold mining communities than in the non-mining communities. The contamination indices indicated low to moderate contamination of the soil and food crops. Bioaccessibility for the metals varied from 1.7% (Fe) to 62.3 (Mn). Overall, the risks posed by the metals upon consumption of the tubers were low.

摘要

农业土壤中金属污染物的存在以及随后被粮食作物吸收可能对人类健康构成严重威胁。在这项研究中，我们评估了加纳两个金矿和两个非采矿社区的土壤和一些可食用块根作物中有毒金属（砷、铬、铜、铁、锰、镍和锌）的水平，以评估与接触这些金属相关的潜在人类健康风险。在通过电感耦合等离子体质谱确认之前，使用现场便携式 X 射线荧光光谱仪分析了 154 个土壤和可食用块根样品中的金属浓度。使用基于体外生理学的提取技术确定金属的生物可及性。金矿社区的金属浓度普遍高于非采矿社区。污染指数表明土壤和粮食作物受到低到中度污染。金属的生物可及性从 1.7% (Fe) 到 62.3 (Mn) 不等。总体而言，食用块茎时金属带来的风险较低。