Assessment of Uranium Transfer in Food Chains and its Effects on the Health of Bahi Community in Tanzania

Abstract: 
This research will be conducted in Bahi District in Central Tanzania where uranium (U) deposits have been confirmed. The study will assess uranium transfer in food chains and its effects to the health of the Bahi community. Uranium content in different foodstuffs which are produced and utilised in that district such as drinking water, soda ash, salt, fish, vegetable, maize, sorghum and rice will be determined. The study will also focus on the assessment of the awareness of the surrounding community on understanding the presence of Uranium in their area and potential risks posed by it and its compounds on their health. Gathering of information of the diseases that are affecting the local community and which could be linked to uranium exposure will be done in this study. This research will bring awareness to the vulnerable communities and Tanzania government on the environmental and health hazards posed by Uranium in the areas where it has been discovered. This is important for the safety of the communities and also to facilitate proper planning for mitigation measures.
Cette recherche sera menée dans le district de Bahi dans le centre de la Tanzanie, où les dépôts d’uranium (U) ont été confirmés. L’étude permettra d’évaluer le transfert de l’uranium dans les chaînes alimentaires et ses effets sur la santé de la communauté de Bahi. La teneur en uranium dans différentes denrées alimentaires produites et utilisées dans ce district, telles que l’eau potable, le carbonate de sodium, le sel, le poisson, les légumes, le maïs, le sorgho et le riz, sera déterminée. L’étude portera également sur l’évaluation de la prise de conscience de la communauté environnante sur la compréhension de la présence de l’U dans leur milieu et les risques potentiels posés par l’uranium et ses composés sur leur santé. La collecte d’informations sur les maladies qui affectent la communauté locale et qui pourraient être liées à l’exposition à l’uranium sera faite dans cette étude. Cette recherche éveillera la consciencedes communautés vulnérables et du gouvernement tanzanien sur les risques sanitaires et environnementaux posés par l’U dans les milieux où il a été découvert. Ceci est important pour la sécurité des communautés et la facilitation d’une bonne planification pour des mesures d’atténuation.
Language: 
English
Extended abstracts submitted under Food Science and Value addition
Date of publication: 
2012
Country: 
Region Focus: 
East Africa
Collection: 
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories: 
Licence conditions: 
Open Access
Access restriction: 
Form: 
Printed resource
Publisher: 
Notes: 

The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants.This record contains an extended abstract accepted under  Food Science and Value addition