TITLE:
Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination and Accumulation in Maga-Pouss Rice Fields, Far North Region of Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Diane Madomguia, Gilbert Bello Basokdou, Isabelle Appoline Kalieu, Patrice Kuitekam Dongo, Edouard Nya, Serge Hubert Zébazé Togouet
KEYWORDS:
Heavy Metals, Health Risk Assessment, Rice Field, SEMRY II, Bioaccumulation, Far North-Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.13 No.7,
July
28,
2025
ABSTRACT: Accumulation of heavy metals in foodstuffs is a matter of concern for human health. In this sense, the present study was conducted in Maga-Pouss rice fields, the major rice-cultivated area in Cameroon, in order to assess the concentrations of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), mercuric (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in rice grains and their possible human health risks. Metals were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) in irrigation water, paddy soils and rice plants and grains gathered from Maga, Ziam, Bakasaraï and Pouss villages. All selected heavy metals were detected in different samples, except Hg. The mean concentrations of heavy metals were in this order: Cu