CSIR study warns of toxic metals in ‘shire’ or ‘ayilor’ consumed by pregnant women in Kumasi
Scientists at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s Soil Research Institute (CSIR-SRI) have raised alarm over the safety of geophagic clay products popularly consumed in parts of Ghana after laboratory tests revealed dangerous levels of toxic metals in samples collected from markets in Kumasi.
The study focused on baked white clay, locally called “Shire” or “Ayilor,” which is widely consumed, particularly by pregnant women who believe it helps reduce nausea, throat irritation and other pregnancy-related discomforts.
Researchers analysed 40 ready-to-eat clay samples obtained from eight major markets across the Kumasi metropolis and discovered the presence of several potentially harmful heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, arsenic and nickel.
According to the findings published in the Journal of Chemistry, the concentration of lead detected in some samples far exceeded internationally accepted safety standards.
The researchers reported lead levels measuring 17.7mg per kilogramm almost 60 times above the limit recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organisation.
The research team, led by Dr Albert Kobina Mensah, warned that prolonged exposure to such substances could have severe health implications, especially for pregnant women and unborn babies.
They cautioned that regular consumption of contaminated clay may contribute to serious complications involving vital organs such as the kidneys, liver and heart, while also increasing long-term cancer risks.
The samples used for the study were collected from markets including Asafo, Bantama, Central Market, Abuakwa, Krofrom, Kwadaso, Tanoso and Edwenease.
Despite the health concerns, researchers acknowledged that the practice of geophagy remains culturally common in Ghana, with many women developing cravings for clay during pregnancy.
Dr Mensah explained that the iron content found in the clay may partly explain the cravings, since iron contributes to haemoglobin production and helps support blood formation during pregnancy.
However, he stressed that any possible nutritional benefit is overshadowed by the dangers posed by toxic contaminants.
He noted that substances such as lead, arsenic and cadmium are harmful even in very small quantities and are not needed by the human body under any circumstance.
Researchers are now calling for intensified public education campaigns to discourage the consumption of contaminated clay products and to create greater awareness about the associated health risks.
They also recommended further investigations into the source of the clay products entering local markets to determine how the contamination occurs before the products reach consumers.
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