Concentration Levels and the Associated Health Risks of Elements in Food Crops Grown in the Neighbourhood of Minjingu Phosphate Mine, Tanzania
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Date
2017
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
SCIENCEDOMAIN international
Abstract
The concentration levels of heavy metals in food crops (maize and mung beans) grown in the
neighbourhood of Minjingu Phosphate mine were analyzed using EDXRF. The metal
concentrations in both food crops followed the following pattern Fe > Zn > Cu > Cd > Cr > Pb > As.
Maize accumulated higher levels of all analyzed elements than mung beans. The concentration
level of metals in maize and mung beans from Minjingu were higher than those from the control
site. Except for Cd in both types of samples, the concentration levels of all other metals were below
the FAO/WHO recommended limits. The risk assessment showed that consumption of mug beans
from Minjingu is without any safety risk while there is a risk in consumption of maize due to the
concentration of Cd. However, the number of samples was not sufficient enough to make a definite
conclusion; therefore, there is need for further analysis to include more data.
Description
Keywords
Food crops, heavy metals, EDXRF, Minjingu phosphate mine, DIM, HRI
Citation
Index Copernicus