‘Shire’ or ‘Ayilor’ sold on Kumasi markets found contaminated with dangerously high lead levels

Geophagic clays, locally known as ‘Shire’ or ‘Ayilor’, are commonly consumed by pregnant women who cite reasons such as alleviating throat irritation, nausea and heart discomfort during pregnancy.

The study, published in the Journal of Chemistry, examined the presence of seven prevalent potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in clay consumed predominantly by pregnant women.

The research, conducted by Dr Albert Kobina Mensah and his team, sampled 40 baked, ready-to-eat geophagic white clay products from eight major markets within the Kumasi Metropolis.