This study was carried out to assess the extent of heavy metals and metalloid accumulation from agricultural soils to foodstuffs (viz, M. esculenta (cassava) and Musa paradisiaca (plantain)) around thirteen neighboring communities within Tarkwa, Ghana; and to estimate the human health risk associated with consumption of these foodstuffs. Concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were measured with an inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometer and mercury analysis was done using a mercury analyzer. From the results, 30% of cassava samples collected, contained higher concentrations of Pb when compared to Codex Alimentarius Commission standard values. Bioconcentration factor indicated that Ni had higher capacity of absorption into food crops from soil than the other heavy metals. For both children and adults, the target hazard quotient (THQ) of Pb in cassava in communities such as Techiman, Wangarakrom, Samahu, and Tebe (only children) were greater than 1, which is defined as an acceptable risk value. This indicated that residents could be exposed to significant health risks associated with cassava consumption.

Heavy metals and a metalloid in agricultural soils in 19 communities in Tarkwa were analyzed to assess the potential ecological risk. A total of 147 soil samples were collected in June, 2012 and analyzed for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn. Mean concentrations (mg/kg dw) of heavy metals in the communities decreased in order of Zn (39) ˃ Cr (21) ˃ Pb (7.2) ˃ Cu (6.2) ˃ As (4.4) ˃ Ni (3.7) ˃ Co (1.8) ˃ Hg (0.32) ˃ Cd (0.050). Correlations among heavy metals and soil properties indicated that soil organic matter could have substantial influence on the total contents of these metals in soil. From the results, integrated pollution (C_deg) in some communities such as, Wangarakrom (11), Badukrom (13) and T–Tamso (17) indicated high pollution with toxic metals, especially from As and Hg. Potential ecological risk (RI) indices indicated low (Mile 7) to high risks (Wangarakrom; Badukrom) of metals. Based on pollution coefficient (Cⁱ_f), C_deg, monomial ecological risk (Eⁱ_r) and RI, the investigated soils fall within low to high contamination and risk of heavy metals to the ecological system especially plants, soil invertebrates and/or mammalian wildlife. This represented moderate potential ecological risk in the study area, and mining activities have played a significant role.

Exposure to trace elements and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during pregnancy is linked to adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes. High smoking rates in western Pennsylvania may influence exposure to these chemicals. We characterized PFAS, trace element, and smoking exposure in the second trimester of pregnancy among women in western Pennsylvania. We measured 38 urine trace elements and 11 serum PFAS in 46 pregnant women in 2017–2021 as part of a nested pilot study from the Magee Obstetric Maternal and Infant (MOMI) biobank and database. We statistically compared environmental chemical concentrations between smoking and non-smoking participants in the MOMI pilot study. Additionally, we descriptively compared MOMI concentrations to a nationally representative sample of US women of reproductive age from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and to published studies characterizing exposures among international populations. Two PFAS (PFOA and PFOS) and 16 trace elements were highly detected in the MOMI pilot study sample. Smoking participants had distributions of 10 trace element concentrations that tended to be significantly higher compared to non-smoking participants, but no significant differences in the distributions of serum PFAS concentrations. All participants had summed PFAS concentrations > 2 μg/L—the National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine threshold for recommending additional health screening. MOMI non-smoking participants had higher concentrations of seven trace elements and lower concentrations of both PFAS compared with NHANES non-smoking participants, while MOMI smoking participants had higher concentrations of 12 trace elements and lower concentrations of both PFAS compared with NHANES smoking participants. Further research is necessary to identify the sources of exposure, potential health effects, and effective strategies to reduce exposure to these environmental chemicals.