Selenium and other heavy metal levels in different rice brands commonly consumed in Pretoria, South Africa.

For centuries, rice has been a dietary staple food partially due to its accessibility, affordability, and nutritional content. However, it has been documented that plants can bioaccumulate trace elements from soil and store them in their tissues therefore necessitating monitoring of its nutritional quality. The current study investigated the Selenium and heavy metal contents of various brands of rice obtained from different retail stores in Pretoria, South Africa.

Investigation of Heavy Metal Analysis on Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Skin Cancer by Traditional Practitioners in Pretoria.

The use of medicinal plants for the treatment of diseases, including cancer, is acknowledged and accepted in many African nations. Heavy metal contamination of plant materials poses a potential health risk, particularly for populations that are already vulnerable. This study determines the levels of heavy metals in medicinal plant samples used for treatment of skin cancer and evaluate the health risk caused by heavy metals to the adult population in Pretoria, South Africa using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Possible Sources of Trace Metals in Obese Females Living in Informal Settlements near Industrial Sites around Gauteng, South Africa.

Trace metals have been reported in the literature to be associated with obesity. Exposure to some trace metals such as Mn, Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb may pose a serious health risk to individuals living around a polluted environment. The present study assessed the levels of trace metals in the blood of obese females living around industrial areas in Gauteng, South Africa.

Health Risk Assessment of Trace Metals in Bottled Water Purchased from Various Retail Stores in Pretoria, South Africa.

Bottled water is one of the fastest growing commercial products in both developing and developed countries owing to the believe that it is safe and pure. In South Africa, over the years, there has been an increase in the sale of bottled water due to the perceived notion that water supplied by the government may not be safe for human consumption. This study investigated the concentrations of trace metals and the physicochemical properties of bottled water purchased from various supermarkets (registered and unregistered) in Pretoria with a view to determining the health risk that may be associated with the levels of trace metals resulting from the consumption of the bottled water.

Adherence to safety practices and risks associated with health care waste management at an academic hospital, Pretoria, South Africa.

Background: Adequate knowledge on hazards of healthcare waste and proper handling methods can result in its safe disposal and protection of workers and communities. The study assessed perceptions of healthcare workers on the adherence and risks associated with the practices of healthcare waste management.

Methods: A total of 126 questionnaires were administered in selected wards at an academic hospital to establish training and knowledge on legislations regarding healthcare waste and health hazards associated with such waste.

Trace element concentrations from lichen transplants in Pretoria, South Africa.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the level and possible sources of trace elements in Tshwane metropolis using transplanted lichen thallus of Parmelia sulcata with a view to evaluating the ability of this lichen species to monitor air pollutants from a perceived polluted environment.

Methods: Samples of the lichen thalli were transplanted into ten different sites and covered with a net. Samples were exposed for 3 months.