Effect of home processing methods on the levels of heavy metal contaminants in four food crops grown in and around two mining towns in Ghana.

Unregulated small-scale mining activities, by young untrained men using some poisonous chemicals, occur in several agricultural forest belts in Ghana. These activities contaminate water bodies in these areas, which happen to be the main farming sites where food crops are intensively cultivated. The presence of these heavy metal contaminants in popular food staples is therefore worrying because of its adverse health implications.

Levels and human health risk assessment of heavy metals in surface soil of public parks in Southern Ghana.

This study evaluates the extent to which humans may be exposed to health risk from heavy metals in surface soils of public parks in Southern Ghana during outdoor activities. The study investigated surface soils of 56 public parks from seven metropolitan cities in Southern Ghana. Heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined using microwave-assisted HNO-HF acid digestion and atomic absorption spectroscopy with flame, graphite furnace, and cold vapor options.