Cancer and Non-Cancer Health Risk from Eating Cassava Grown in Some Mining Communities in Ghana

Obiri, Samuel; Dk, Dodoo; Okai-Sam, F.; Essumang, David Kofi; Adjorlolo-Gasokpoh, A.

doi:10.1007/s10661-006-0799-9

Cited by 18 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Furthermore, Amasa (1975), AmonooNeizer and Amekor (1993), and Adomako et al (2010) have reported high concentrations of As in food items such as orange, sugar cane, cassava, and rice from mining regions in Ghana. According to Obiri et al (2006), high arsenic in food crops grown in miningcontaminated areas of Ghana can cause adverse effects to human health. In this way, in Ghana, Asante et al (2007) who found the same high concentrations of arsenic in human urine samples from residents of the mining town of Tarkwa and from non-mining town of Accra suggested that human contamination of arsenic has another source, possibly foods.…”

Section: Health Hazard Linked To High-as Water In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Arsenic in African Waters: A Review

Ahoulé

Lalanne

Mendret

et al. 2015

Water Air Soil Pollut

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The review of studies on arsenic in African waters shows that arsenic can be found in high concentrations in both surface water and groundwater. Arsenic concentrations in African groundwater range between 0.02 and 1760 μg L −1 , whilst the level of arsenic in surface water is ranged up to 10,000 μg L −1 . This high level of arsenic in surface water is related to mining operations, agricultural drains, local sediments, disposal, and incineration of municipal and industrial wastes. However, mining activities remain the main source of surface water pollution. They have thereby a strong impact on the concentration of arsenic in the environment. As for groundwater, high levels of arsenic occur in natural conditions. It is due to the presence of iron oxides; sulphide minerals such as pyrite, arsenopyrite, and chalcopyrite; volcanic rocks; and geothermal waters. Few studies in Africa make the link between human health problems and high levels of arsenic in water. Only two articles were found dealing with arsenic remediation. This shows that arsenic, which constitutes a major public health issue in the world, has less interest in Africa although high concentrations of arsenic have been found in both surface water and groundwater in some African countries. Most of the studies carried out on arsenic issues in Africa are dedicated to the characterization and the quantification of the pollution, but studies on the risk to human health and treatment systems are limited. The arsenic issue in Africa needs special attention in order to avoid the problems experienced in some areas mainly in Asia.

show abstract

Section: Health Hazard Linked To High-as Water In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Arsenic in African Waters: A Review

Ahoulé

Lalanne

Mendret

et al. 2015

Water Air Soil Pollut

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Gold mining in Ghana has been the largest foreign exchange earner since pre-independence, with gold export earnings rising from US$ 107.9 million to US$ 744.2 million between 1985and 1989(Obiri et al 2006. The main gold prospects in Ghana occur at Obuasi and Konongo in the Ashanti region, and at Tarkwa, Prestea and Bogosu in the western region (Oberthur et al 1997;Smedley 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variations in Concentrations of Arsenic and Other Potentially Toxic Elements in Mine and Paddy Soils and Irrigation Waters from Southern Ghana

Adomako

Deacon

Meharg

2010

Water Qual Expo Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Adverse health effects have also been linked to As in food crops grown in mining-contaminated areas of Ghana (Obiri et al, 2006). and were thought likely to be of localised occurrence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arsenic in groundwater from mineralised Proterozoic basement rocks of Burkina Faso

Smedley

Knudsen

Maïga³

2007

Applied Geochemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study describes the hydrogeochemistry and distributions of As in groundwater from a newly investigated area of Burkina Faso. Groundwaters have been sampled from handpumped boreholes and dug wells close to the town of Ouahigouya in northern Burkina Faso.Although most analysed groundwaters have As concentrations of less than 10 µg L -1 , they have a large range from <0.5 to 1630 µg L -1 . The highest concentrations are found in borehole waters; all dug wells analysed in this study have As concentrations of <10 µg L -1 .Skin disorders (melanosis, keratosis and more rare skin tumour) have been identified among the populations in three villages in northern Burkina Faso, two within the study area.Although detailed epidemiological studies have not been carried out, similarities with documented symptoms in other parts of the world suggest that these are likely to be linked to high concentrations of As in drinking water. The high-As groundwaters observed derive from zones of gold mineralisation in Birimian (Lower Proterozoic) volcano-sedimentary rocks, the gold occurring in vein structures along with quartz and altered sulphide minerals (pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite). However, the spatial variability in As concentrations in the mineralised zones is large and the degree of testing both laterally and with depth so far limited. Hence, concentrations are difficult to predict on a local scale. From available data, the groundwater appears to be mainly oxic and the dissolved As occurs almost entirely as As(V) although concentrations are highest in groundwaters with dissolved-oxygen concentrations <2 mg L -1 . The source is likely to be the oxidised sulphide minerals and secondary iron oxides in the mineralised zones. Positive correlations are observed between dissolved As and both Mo and W which are also believed to be derived from ore minerals and oxides in the mineralised zones. The discovery of high As concentrations in some groundwaters from the Birimian rocks of northern Burkina Faso reiterates the need for reconnaissance surveys in mineralised areas of crystalline basement.

show abstract

Cancer and Non-Cancer Health Risk from Eating Cassava Grown in Some Mining Communities in Ghana

Cited by 18 publications

References 3 publications

Arsenic in African Waters: A Review

Arsenic in African Waters: A Review

Variations in Concentrations of Arsenic and Other Potentially Toxic Elements in Mine and Paddy Soils and Irrigation Waters from Southern Ghana

Arsenic in groundwater from mineralised Proterozoic basement rocks of Burkina Faso

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About