Consommation de légumes et risques sanitaires à Kinshasa : une évaluation appliquée aux amarantes

Market gardening is very important for the food security and the socio-economic life of the population of the city of Kinshasa. They provide more than 70% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the city. However, the production practices of these vegetables can lead to their contamination by micropollutants such as toxic metals with potential health risks for consumers to be assessed. This research examines the accumulation of toxic metals in amaranth (Amaranthus viridis) leaves sold in four markets in the city of Kinshasa in order to assess the potential risks to consumers. The results show that concentrations of toxic metals in amaranth leaves during the dry and rainy seasons are very high. The contamination of vegetables can be explained by several factors, including chemicals used to prevent amaranth diseases, emissions from vehicles and motorcycles in fields located near major roads, and watering. Given the concentrations of toxic metals in pigweed leaves compared to the FAO/WHO limits, and the results of our risk calculations, excessive consumption of this vegetable may pose potential health risks to consumers.