Determination and risk assessment of heavy metals in raw foodstuffs sold from open markets in Zambia; a comparison of Kabwe, Kitwe, and Lusaka towns

• Published in: International journal of environmental health research Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 1566 - 1579
• Main Authors: Miyanza, Foster, Ramalepe, Thapelo, Monyai, Mokgaetji, Chaúque, Eutilério, Nyambe, Imasiku, Chimuka, Luke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 03.03.2024; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Aluminum; Cadmium; Carcinogens; Chromium; Fish; Health risks; Heavy metals; human health risk assessment; metal contamination; Risk analysis; Risk assessment; Statistical analysis; Towns; vegetables; Zambia; Fish; Zambia; human health risk assessment; vegetables; metal contamination
• ISSN: 0960-3123; 1369-1619
• DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2023.2229750

The research focused on risk assessment of some heavy metals in common vegetables and fish sold on open markets in three towns of Zambia. The mean level of heavy metals ranged as follows (mg/kg): 1.9 to 662.7, 3.0 to 3472.3 and 2.0 to 1698.7 of cadmium (lowest) and aluminium (highest) for samples from Kabwe, Kitwe and Lusaka, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that the concentrations of samples from Kitwe and Lusaka towns were similar, P > 0.05. However, there were noteworthy differences in the mean amounts of heavy metals in samples from Kitwe and Kabwe, and samples from Kabwe and Lusaka towns, P < .0167. The health risk analysis indicates possible non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to the consumer. This is because the hazard index (HI) for all metals in all samples from all towns was greater than 1 and the cancer risk (CR) for cadmium was above 10 −4 in all samples from all towns.