THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF UNKNOWINGLY INGESTING HARMFUL TRACE ELEMENTS FROM FOOD CROPS AND THEIR HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: A CASE STUDY AT TALENSI DISTRICT IN THE UPPER EAST REGION, GHANA

Abstract

Food consumed ideally is supposed to improve the health of humans but there are hidden dangers in consuming some staple food crops in Talensi District because of the variability of soil geochemistry and the environmental activities that influence plants uptake of some elements from the surface environment. Evidence of enriched potentially harmful elements in food crops have been demonstrated in 19 food samples collected from different locations in Talensi District. The samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer for concentration levels of Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr) and Selenium (Se) in digested food crops. Using permissible concentration limits of elements in these food crops; their enrichment factors (EF) were computed. Mix enrichment factors were obtained for all elements except Cr that showed enrichment in all food crops sampled in all communities up to about 10-folds. The variable enrichment factors obtained for the same food species was attributed to differences in geological and geochemical environments as well as different human activities. Selenium was found to be enriched in few food crops from some communities but showed general deficiency in many of the food crops in some communities. In conclusion the global averages of the measured As and Pb being lower than the permissible concentration limits do not suggest As and Pb-free cultivated food crops in the District. The study established the conclusions drawn on the basis of the computed average EFs seem to be overly inaccurate and not reflective with events at the local communities and recommends each food crop enrichment factor be analyzed and interpreted for local environmental health policy with respect to the local environment.