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<p>Edible salts locally mined and processed in Awe and Keana communities of Nasarawa State, Nigeria are consumed without proper purification, thus posing possible health risks to consumers. This study evaluates metals/metalloids and natural radionuclides concentration in 75 composite salt samples from 15 different sources. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Gamma Spectrometry equipped with NaI (Ti) detector, were used to analyze metals/metalloids and natural radionuclides, respectively. The results showed that the average levels of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Pb in the unrefined salts exceeded regulatory permissible limits, with several containing <sup>238</sup>U. In contrast, refined salt samples showed most metal and natural radionuclide levels below the regulatory permissible limits. Hazard Index levels for most unrefined salts exceeded unity, indicating potential non-carcinogenic health risks for both adults and children. Specific exposure to high cancer risk comes from As, Cd, Cr, and Ni in the unrefined salt samples studied. The presence of Cr (average CR values = 1.04 × 10<sup>− 4</sup>) in the investigated refined salts posed an increased carcinogenic risk in children. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that metal contamination in the salts was from multiple sources. The evaluated radiological health hazard indices of the salt samples were within the permissible limit set by the UNSCEAR, indicating no significant ionizing radiation health risk. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies should consider organ – specific cancer risk assessment to provide more detailed toxicological insight on the consumption of unrefined edible salts from Awe and Keana.</p>

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Human Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Metals and Natural Radionuclides in Unrefined Edible Salts from Salt Mining Communities of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月16日

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  • Jude Chinedu Onwuka,
  • Adamu Usman,
  • Amos Idzi Ambo,
  • Matthew Olaleke Aremu,
  • Enebi Estella Jasper,
  • Gladys Nkeiruka Onwuka,
  • Daniel Apeh Egyegbola,
  • Lucy Ooja Agho,
  • Bilyamin Ishaq,
  • Folashade Habibat Omotehinwa,
  • Agu Matthew Onyema

摘要

Edible salts locally mined and processed in Awe and Keana communities of Nasarawa State, Nigeria are consumed without proper purification, thus posing possible health risks to consumers. This study evaluates metals/metalloids and natural radionuclides concentration in 75 composite salt samples from 15 different sources. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Gamma Spectrometry equipped with NaI (Ti) detector, were used to analyze metals/metalloids and natural radionuclides, respectively. The results showed that the average levels of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Pb in the unrefined salts exceeded regulatory permissible limits, with several containing 238U. In contrast, refined salt samples showed most metal and natural radionuclide levels below the regulatory permissible limits. Hazard Index levels for most unrefined salts exceeded unity, indicating potential non-carcinogenic health risks for both adults and children. Specific exposure to high cancer risk comes from As, Cd, Cr, and Ni in the unrefined salt samples studied. The presence of Cr (average CR values = 1.04 × 10− 4) in the investigated refined salts posed an increased carcinogenic risk in children. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that metal contamination in the salts was from multiple sources. The evaluated radiological health hazard indices of the salt samples were within the permissible limit set by the UNSCEAR, indicating no significant ionizing radiation health risk. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies should consider organ – specific cancer risk assessment to provide more detailed toxicological insight on the consumption of unrefined edible salts from Awe and Keana.