The chemical composition of clay soil analysis and potential health risks: an experimental study in Tshwane District, Gauteng Province.

Geophagy is the deliberate ingestion of earthly materials such as chalk, kaolin, soil, clay, and sand amongst pregnant women and women of childbearing age in African countries such as South Africa. This study aimed to examine the chemical composition and potential health risks of clay soil consumed by women of childbearing age. An experimental study was conducted to examine the chemical composition of clay soils ingested by pregnant women and women of childbearing age in Tshwane District, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Thirty-nine clay soil samples were collected from study participants attending antenatal care services and family planning at public healthcare facilities of Tshwane District, Gauteng Province, and were subjected to biochemical analysis. The study detected 18 trace elements that were present in clay soil eaten by women of childbearing age of Tshwane in different concentrations. The practice of geophagy amongst women of childbearing age has been reported to be associated with detrimental health outcomes and risks such as iron deficiency anaemia, constipation, shortness of breath, maternal and childhood mortalities and morbidities, neurological and central nervous system disorder, death, appendicitis, cancers, teratogenic risks and ulcers. The practice of geophagy amongst women of childbearing age is toxic and should be discouraged and abolished.