Peri-urban agriculture of food crops is practiced in many slum areas in developing countries. This often uses waste water whose levels of essential and non-essential elements are largely unknown but would be feared to...Peri-urban agriculture of food crops is practiced in many slum areas in developing countries. This often uses waste water whose levels of essential and non-essential elements are largely unknown but would be feared to contaminate soils, consequently exposing man to associated health risks. Inhabitants in Kibera slum, Nairobi City practice these growing kales, amaranthus, arrowroots, and spinach. Health risk assessment was done using daily intake of metals (DIM), target hazard quotient (THQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). Atomic absorption spectroscopy was employed for elemental analysis. The levels of essential elements ranged as follows;Mn 91.04 - 374.44, Mg 261.28 - 532.96, Fe 350.74 - 1273.68, and Zn 1.18 - 6.3 μg/g per dry weight were found to be below the recommended limits by FAO/WHO. Non-essential elements ranged as follows;Cr 1.15 - 4.32 and Pb 0.14 - 0.91 μg/g above the EU recommendation. DIM of Fe 5.81 - 27.61 and Mn 1.97 - 8.12 μg/g is above the recommended daily intake amounts. THQ values for Mn and Fe were more than unit. THQ values for non-essential elements were generally below unit. ILCR showed that from lead alone 73 people (0.043% of 0.17M residents) are likely to develop cancer. There are foreseen health risks associated with consumption of food crops grown in Kibera slum that requires immediate address.展开更多
Over 60 percent of Kenya＇s urban dwellers live in slum settlements. Here, people live under life-threatening conditions characterized with poverty, inadequate food and shelter, physical overcrowding, unsafe drinking ...Over 60 percent of Kenya＇s urban dwellers live in slum settlements. Here, people live under life-threatening conditions characterized with poverty, inadequate food and shelter, physical overcrowding, unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation. The flimsiness of these dwellers is not always due to low incomes. It is often the result of insecurity of tenure and other deprivations： the lack of entitlement inhibits their investment in better health. In Kibera Slum, Africa＇s second largest and Kenya＇s oldest and largest slum, poor sanitation and inadequate water supply is a daily challenge for the residents. Over 150 persons share one shallow pit latrine while 75 percent of the population uses sanitation practices that involve direct handling of human waste increasing in spread of infectious diseases. Insecurity of tenure; low levels of education; inadequate socio-economic, infrastructural and physical entitlements all affect the Kibera＇s residents＇ perception and attitude towards investing in better sanitation behavior.展开更多
文摘Peri-urban agriculture of food crops is practiced in many slum areas in developing countries. This often uses waste water whose levels of essential and non-essential elements are largely unknown but would be feared to contaminate soils, consequently exposing man to associated health risks. Inhabitants in Kibera slum, Nairobi City practice these growing kales, amaranthus, arrowroots, and spinach. Health risk assessment was done using daily intake of metals (DIM), target hazard quotient (THQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). Atomic absorption spectroscopy was employed for elemental analysis. The levels of essential elements ranged as follows;Mn 91.04 - 374.44, Mg 261.28 - 532.96, Fe 350.74 - 1273.68, and Zn 1.18 - 6.3 μg/g per dry weight were found to be below the recommended limits by FAO/WHO. Non-essential elements ranged as follows;Cr 1.15 - 4.32 and Pb 0.14 - 0.91 μg/g above the EU recommendation. DIM of Fe 5.81 - 27.61 and Mn 1.97 - 8.12 μg/g is above the recommended daily intake amounts. THQ values for Mn and Fe were more than unit. THQ values for non-essential elements were generally below unit. ILCR showed that from lead alone 73 people (0.043% of 0.17M residents) are likely to develop cancer. There are foreseen health risks associated with consumption of food crops grown in Kibera slum that requires immediate address.
文摘Over 60 percent of Kenya＇s urban dwellers live in slum settlements. Here, people live under life-threatening conditions characterized with poverty, inadequate food and shelter, physical overcrowding, unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation. The flimsiness of these dwellers is not always due to low incomes. It is often the result of insecurity of tenure and other deprivations： the lack of entitlement inhibits their investment in better health. In Kibera Slum, Africa＇s second largest and Kenya＇s oldest and largest slum, poor sanitation and inadequate water supply is a daily challenge for the residents. Over 150 persons share one shallow pit latrine while 75 percent of the population uses sanitation practices that involve direct handling of human waste increasing in spread of infectious diseases. Insecurity of tenure; low levels of education; inadequate socio-economic, infrastructural and physical entitlements all affect the Kibera＇s residents＇ perception and attitude towards investing in better sanitation behavior.
