Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Grace, G., Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa; Eta, N.E., Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Geophagic soil samples collected from women who consume them were analysed for some of the physicochemical characteristics in order to understand the possible influence of this practice on the health of those who consume them. Some of the properties investigated were colour, texture, pH, cation exchange capacities (CEC) and elemental composition. The colour (hue values) of the geophagic soils ranged from yellowish (10YR) to brownish with most of them being yellowish brown and yellowish orange. The texture of the soils varied considerably from sand to clay. ThepHfmo) of the geophagic soils varied from as low as 3.89 to as high as 9.11 with a mean pH(H20) of 7.34. The cation exchange capacities of these soils ranged from 3-89 meq/WOg soil with a mean CEC of 38 meq/lOOg soil and a median of 28 meq/lOOg soil. The elemental composition was dominated by iron, aluminium, calcium and magnesium and traces of copper and zinc while arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead were not detectable. Relatively high cation-exchange capacities of some of the geophagic soils observed in the study may have the potential to supplement some of the vital elements like iron and zinc and may confer some healing abilities such as detoxification. High levels of calcium in some of the geophagic soils analyzed may provide calcium sufficiently but may affect the absorption and bioavailability of zinc. High content of iron observed in these soils may also influence negatively on the utilization of copper, zinc and probably selenium.