## 5 Conclusions  
The current study performed a health risk assessment based on the presence of metals in aqueous aphrodisiac conococtions from common markets in Durban and Johannesburg herbal markets. The results showed elevated levels of trace metals in the conoctions; however, based on the consumption rates, the metals were found to pose minimal health \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Element**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Reference Dose**} & **Estimated Daily Intake (sg kg–(bw) Day–1)** & **Target Hazard** & **Target Cancer Risk** \\  & **(sg kg–(bw) Day–1)** & **Johannesburg** & **Durban** & **Quotient** & **Target Cancer Risk** \\ \hline Na & 1500 & 0.0264–0.317 & 0.0298–0.339 & 1.22 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-6}\)–1.56 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & \\ K & 4700 & 0.0105–0.325 & 0.0142–0.019 & 1.54 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-6}\)–4.79 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\) & \\ Mg & 420 & 0.0875–0.146 & 0.0201–0.0342 & 3.08 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-2}\)-4.51 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & \\ Ca & 1000 & 0.0361–0.0620 & 0.0322–0.0643 & 2.23 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\)–4.45 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\) & \\ Cu & 0.9 & \(2.64\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–5.85 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & 2.03 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–4.50 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & \(<\)42\(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & \\ Zn & 11 & \(1.80\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\)–1.34 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\) & 1.36 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–1.32 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\) & 8.55 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-2}\)-8.97 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & \\ Mn & 2 & \(1.29\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\)–0.0140 & 1.45 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-7}\)-9.96 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & 4.48 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\)–4.86 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\) & \\ Mo & 0.045 & \(6.16\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\)–1.82 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & 6.07 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\)–5.72 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\) & 9.34 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–2.80 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\) & \\ Al & - & \(1.66\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–0.0401 & 1.79 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-6}\)–6.01 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\) & - & \\ Fe & 18 & \(<\)0.00321 & -6.16 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\) & \(\leq\)0.00123 & \\ Ni & 0.022 & \(2.62\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–5.34 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & 3.58 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–5.25 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & 9.07 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\)–0.0185 & \\ Cr & 0.035 & \(4.22\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–6.12 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & 4.85 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\)–4.60 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & 0.00834–0.0121 & \(1.46\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–2.12 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) \\ Co & - & 6.44 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–6.04 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & 7.99 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–8.04 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & 0.0406–0.106 & 2.53 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–0.239 \\ As & 0.003 & \(1.76\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–5.85 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–2.43 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\)–4.89 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–0.80 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & 0.0406–0.106 & 2.53 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–0.239 \\ Cd & 0.025 & \(7.99\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\)–2.21 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\)–8.04 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\) & 8.01 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\)–8.04 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\) & 0.02021–0.0613 & 3.49 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–9.66 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\) \\ Pb & 0.015 & \(2.83\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–1.42 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–3.24 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–3.80 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) & 0.0130–0.0190 & 1.66 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)–2.42 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\) \\  & & & Total = 0.225 & Total = 0.249 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Aphrodisiac metal ion consumption rates and health risk assessment. side effects. This study also observed the contribution of tap water to increasing the metal concentrations. This is a serious concern as it may point to ailing water systems where important trace metals, such as Pb and Cd, leach from dilapidated pipes. The study recommends the need for a more inclusive study to look at the real problem contributing to elevated levels of important trace metals. Currently, the South African consumers can continue the cult of consumption of aphrodisiacs.