Metal(loid)s Profile of Four Traditional Ethiopian Teff Brands: Geographic Origin Discrimination.

Among the most renowned Ethiopian food crops, teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.)Trotter) is the most nutritious and gluten-free cereal. Because of the increase in demand for teff, it is necessary to establish geographic origin authentication of traditional teff brands based on multi-element fingerprint. For this purpose, a total of 60 teff samples were analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Accuracy of the laboratory procedure was verified by the analysis of rice flour standard reference material (NIST SRM 1568b). In this context, four traditional teff brands (Ada'a, Ginchi, Gojam and Tulu Bolo) were analytically characterized using multi-element fingerprint and further treated statistically using linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Due to obvious extrinsic Fe, Al and V contamination, these elements were excluded from the discriminant model. Five elements (Cu, Mo, Se, Sr, and Zn) significantly contributed to discriminate the geographical origin of white teff. On the other hand, Mn, Mo, Se and Sr were used as discriminant variables for brown teff. LDA revealed 90 and 100% correct classifications for white and brown teff, respectively. Overall, multi-element fingerprint coupled with LDA can be considered a suitable tool for geographic origin discrimination of traditional teff brands.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in a refugee context in East Africa: Kitchen gardening helps with mineral provision.

Kitchen gardening is considered a way to reconnect with agriculture and complement the cereal-based relief food offered to refugees in East Africa. This work aimed at profiling mineral content of okra in four refugee camps and settlements located in Ethiopia and Uganda and its contribution to adequate intake (AIs) or recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) for young children and pregnant and lactating women (PLW). The study also evaluated the applicability of portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) as compared with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for mineral profiling of okra powder samples. The contents of minerals (mg kg-1) from the ICP-MS readings were in the following ranges: K (14,385-33,294), Ca (2610-14,090), P (3178-13,248), Mg (3896-7986), Cu (3.81-19.3), Fe (75.7-1243), Zn (33-141) and Mn (23.1-261). Regardless of geographic origin, at low-end consumption probability (17 g day-1 for young children and 68 g day-1 for PLW), okra could contribute ˂ 15% (2.7-12.9%) AI for macro-minerals (K and Ca). In addition, the contributions to RDA values for Fe and Zn, elements of known public health interest, ranged from 4.5 to 34.7% for young children. Interestingly, regression lines revealed strong agreement between ICP-MS and PXRF readings for Mn and Zn, with R2 values > 0.91. This information is useful in support of nutrition-sensitive kitchen gardening programs through scaling culturally important crops in refugee settings. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42452-021-04898-6.

Exposure to DDT and HCH congeners and associated potential health risks through khat (Catha edulis) consumption among adults in South Wollo, Ethiopia.

Khat (Catha edulis) chewing is widespread in the region of East Africa. Even low levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in khat could induce public health concern. In a market-based study, from five popular khat varieties, a total of 35 composite khat samples were analyzed for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its main transformation products, and four hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers. Extraction was carried out by quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe method (QuEChERS). OCP concentrations were determined by head space solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). Every sample contained ß-HCH above the maximum residue limit set by the European Commission. For total DDT, this was the case for 25.7% of the samples. The ratios of (p,p'-DDD + p,p'-DDE) to p,p'-DDT were less than one for 85% of khat samples, demonstrating recent use of DDT in khat farmlands. Conversely, the ratio of ß-HCH to total HCH varied from 0.56 to 0.96, implying historical input of technical HCH. Assuming a daily chewable portion of 100 g, dietary intakes of p,p'-DDT, total DDT and total HCH by adults ranged from 3.12 to 57.9, 6.49 to 80.2 and 39.2 to 51.9 ng (kg body weight)-1 day-1, respectively. These levels are below acceptable levels suggested by international organizations. Chewing khat showed lower non-cancer health risk, but showed relatively higher cancer risk in terms of OCPs. Because khat is chewed without being subjected to any treatment, uncertainties associated with estimated intakes and health risks should be low. Therefore, this practice is of great concern.

Contents of Metal(loid)s in a Traditional Ethiopian Flat Bread (Injera), Dietary Intake, and Health Risk Assessment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The traditional Ethiopian flat bread, injera, is a regular component of daily diets in Ethiopia and Eritrea. This bread is also popular among urban refugees particularly Eritreans in Addis Ababa. The levels of metal(loid)s in 40 composite (120 sub-samples) injera samples, representing 4 types of market establishments in Addis Ababa, were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF). For ICP-MS analysis, the accuracy of the method was evaluated by the analysis of a certified reference material and recovery experiments. It was found that the correlations between the mean levels of Al and Fe and between Al and Mn in injera were highly significant (p < 0.001). It was also found that 1.5 fresh injeras would cover 48-75% of recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for Mg, 17-21% of RDA for K, 19-23% of RDA for Ca, and 60-72% of RDA for P for an adult group aged between 19 and 50. Daily intakes of Al, Fe, and Mn were found to be above the provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI)/maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI) values. The mean target hazard quotient (THQ) values for Fe and Mn were greater than 1. The total THQ values varied from 6.52 to 8.53 among market establishments. Estimating carcinogenic risk due to exposure to As, Cr, and Pb indicated that perennial injera consumers might remain at cancer risk. This would further escalate if other staple food items and spices are considered. Hence, there is a need for home-based strategies to reduce extrinsic soil-Al-Fe-Mn in injera/tef batter.