"Abstract:

Background: Geophagia refers to the deliberate eating of soil in the form of clay soil or mud. In Tanzania, pregnant women commonly eat soil sticks sold in the market (pemba).  This study aimed at determining the presence and the amount of minerals in geophagia products consumed by pregnant women in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Methodology: This was the laboratory based experimental study on the mineral analysis of two geophagia products called Red Pemba and White Pemba .A total of  22 samples were procured from 10 markets located in Ilemela and Nyamagana districts of Mwanza region. The analysis was done using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy by (ICP-OES) at SGS laboratory. The instrument software processed the spectral data and compare it to a calibration curve/reference to calculate the concentrations of mineral present in the sample.

Results: A total of 12 minerals were detected in the analysis of both types of geophagia. 7 are essential minerals namely; Calcium, Chromium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Copper and Zinc. The remaining 5, are toxic non-essential minerals which include; Aluminium, Arsenic, Cadmium Nickel and Lead. Proportions of each mineral varied depending the soil used to make the geophagia. Iron was present in highest concentrations in both Red Pemba  and White Pemba the mineral craved for among pregnant women.

Conclusion: Geophagia products sold in Nyamagana and Ilemela district markets namely Red Pemba and White Pemba contain both essential mineral and non-essential minerals. The presence of toxic minerals subject pregnant women and the unborn child to several negative health outcomes such fetus development cancer among others."