Geophagic earths consumed by women in <scp>w</scp>estern <scp>K</scp>enya contain dangerous levels of lead, arsenic, and iron

Miller, Joshua D.; Collins, Shalean M.; Omotayo, Moshood O.; Martin, Stéphanie; Dickin, Katherine; Young, Sera L.

doi:10.1002/ajhb.23130

Cited by 20 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 56 publications

(63 reference statements)

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“…However, she may have been exposed to metals though the regular ingestion of clay during her pregnancy. Geophagy is a widespread habit among pregnant women throughout Africa and geophagic clay materials can be contaminated by parasites but also by metals (Gundacker et al, 2017; Lar, Agene, & Umar, 2015; Miller et al, 2018; Odongo, Moturi, & Mbuthia, 2016). Geophagy was identified as a risk factor of orofacial congenital malformations (Mbuyi‐Musanzayi et al, 2018) but not in our case–control study of birth defects (Van Brusselen et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agnathia otocephaly: A case from the Katanga Copperbelt

Kayembe‐Kitenge

Kadiamba

Luca

et al. 2020

Birth Defects Research

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Background: Agnathia otocephaly is a rare craniofacial malformation complex characterised by absent/hypoplastic mandible, abnormally positioned ears meeting at level of neck. Besides mutations in two genes, PRRX1 and OTX2, a teratogenic cause has been suggested. A higher risk of congenital malformations has been associated with paternal work in mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's part of the Copperbelt. Case: We studied a female neonate with a clinical diagnosis of agnathia otocephaly, stillborn in Lubumbashi in 2019. The child's father had been working as an artisanal mineworker at the time of conception. Results: Genetic analysis did not reveal a causal mutation. The concentrations of cobalt, arsenic cadmium, and uranium in cord blood of the infant were much higher than those of normal neonates from a previous study. Conclusion: In the absence of identified genetic causes, we hypothesize this case of agnathia otocephaly was related to an exogenous cause, possibly the father's mining-related job.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agnathia otocephaly: A case from the Katanga Copperbelt

Kayembe‐Kitenge

Kadiamba

Luca

et al. 2020

Birth Defects Research

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“…Pure Earth has also identified mercury exposure risk associated with mining in Kakamega, as well as lead exposure risk from battery recycling (St. Fort, 2018). Geophagy, which is typically practiced in response to micronutrient deficiency and/or gastrointestinal distress, is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa (Miller et al, 2018). It has been reported in a number of regions of Kenya, mostly among pregnant women as a low-cost home remedy for anemia (Miller et al, 2018).…”

Section: Chemical Contamination In Wash-benefits Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Geophagy, which is typically practiced in response to micronutrient deficiency and/or gastrointestinal distress, is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa (Miller et al, 2018). It has been reported in a number of regions of Kenya, mostly among pregnant women as a low-cost home remedy for anemia (Miller et al, 2018). However, geophagic earths in Kakamega may be harmful due to dangerous levels of lead, arsenic, and iron (Miller et al, 2018).…”

Section: Chemical Contamination In Wash-benefits Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been reported in a number of regions of Kenya, mostly among pregnant women as a low-cost home remedy for anemia (Miller et al, 2018). However, geophagic earths in Kakamega may be harmful due to dangerous levels of lead, arsenic, and iron (Miller et al, 2018). One study revealed lead concentrations greater than four times higher than the limit set by the FDA in all geophagic earth samples tested (Miller et al, 2018).…”

Section: Chemical Contamination In Wash-benefits Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, geophagic earths in Kakamega may be harmful due to dangerous levels of lead, arsenic, and iron (Miller et al, 2018). One study revealed lead concentrations greater than four times higher than the limit set by the FDA in all geophagic earth samples tested (Miller et al, 2018). The authors concluded that conditions were especially deleterious for women in western Kenya, where more than one-quarter of women of child bearing age have iron deficiency anemia, and that consumption of earth from Kakamega county should be discouraged (Miller et al, 2018).…”

Section: Chemical Contamination In Wash-benefits Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of chemical exposures in reducing the effectiveness of water–sanitation–hygiene interventions in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Zimbabwe

Kearns

2020

WIREs Water

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The sustainable success of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions to reduce waterborne disease and promote public health in low‐income regions is uncertain. Recent large randomized controlled trials in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Zimbabwe revealed that traditional household WASH interventions are unlikely to reduce diarrhea or improve linear growth (i.e., reduce stunting) in infants and children—two important indicators of the effectiveness of WASH interventions. A possible factor contributing to the null results is that traditional WASH interventions control microbial pathogens but do not remove chemical toxicants. Exposure to many organic and inorganic chemical toxicants is associated with diarrheal symptoms, as well as with preterm birth and stunting. Many chemical toxicants have deleterious effects on the immune system, impairing the body's response to infectious diseases, and reducing the effectiveness of vaccinations. Globalization has led to rapid and largely unregulated import, production, use, and disposal without adequate treatment of large quantities of hazardous chemicals throughout the developing world, with profound effects on the environment and human health. Literature evidence from the past 10 to 15 years on putative and demonstrated chemical exposures in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Zimbabwe and the regions within the countries where the large WASH trials took place supports potential contribution(s) from chemical toxicants in the failure of traditional WASH interventions to relieve diarrhea and stunting. Mitigating exposures to organic and inorganic chemical immunotoxins through drinking water and other routes is likely to be a necessary‐but‐insufficient criterion for the sustainable success of WASH interventions. This article is categorized under: Engineering Water > Water, Health, and Sanitation Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water

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Toxic Geogenic Contaminants in Serpentinitic Geological Systems: Occurrence, Behavior, Exposure Pathways, and Human Health Risks

Gwenzi

2021

Geochemistry

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Geophagic earths consumed by women in western Kenya contain dangerous levels of lead, arsenic, and iron

Abstract: Geophagic earths in Kakamega may be harmful because of dangerously high levels of lead, arsenic, and iron. The prevalence of geophagy among vulnerable populations underscores the importance of understanding its causes and consequences for accurate public health messaging.

Cited by 20 publications

References 56 publications

Agnathia otocephaly: A case from the Katanga Copperbelt

Agnathia otocephaly: A case from the Katanga Copperbelt

The role of chemical exposures in reducing the effectiveness of water–sanitation–hygiene interventions in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Zimbabwe

Toxic Geogenic Contaminants in Serpentinitic Geological Systems: Occurrence, Behavior, Exposure Pathways, and Human Health Risks

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