Editorial
Alarming lead content in metal cookware is wake-up call
High amounts of lead contamination have been reported in ceramic and metal cookware, children’s toys, and cosmetics, all of which offer major health concerns to humans, particularly women and children.
This follows a study conducted by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and Pure Earth that revealed lead could contaminate food when cooked in metal cookware, particularly locally produced aluminum cookware known as “dadesen.”
Lead is a dangerous heavy metal that can affect children’s development permanently, specifically their behaviour and intellectual capacity.
The study, which included three ecological zones of the nation, found that youngsters in the study regions of Greater Accra and the Northern Regions were frequently exposed to and poisoned by lead.
During a press conference in Accra, it was disclosed that significant levels of lead were discovered in 77 percent of the pots examined.
It also showed that there was a lead contamination rate of 55 percent in metal cookware, 18 percent in ceramic cookware, 14 percent in children’s toys, and seven percent in cosmetics (local mascara), despite the fact that 93 percent of mothers in the Northern Region used the traditional eyeliner, “chilo.”
No one is safe because we all eat from metallic cookware, thus this is a significant issue that needs to be addressed right away. Since there is a very high exposure to lead when using these metallic cookware, it has been proven that eating from them puts people at risk for lead poisoning.
When lead exposure levels are high and permanent, it can have a severe impact on children’s intelligence and lead to anaemia.
In addition, extended lead exposure may cause high Blood Pressure (BP), heart disease, kidney disease, and decreased fertility.
This is an urgent public health issue that needs to be addressed, especially because women and children are at risk.
Because lead poisoning has negative effects on the developing baby’s brain and nervous system and leads to learning and other behavioural issues, pregnant women and young children are more susceptible to it.
Therefore, the government must take the required actions to set up safeguards for the citizens’ health.
It is encouraging that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as a result of the study, is supporting a lead prevention and reduction policy for the nation to reduce the use of lead in order to protect the environment, as stated by the EPA’s Executive Director, Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu.
He says that to develop lead prevention and reduction policy for Ghana, a high-level multi-sectoral ministerial committee made up of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), Ministry of Health (MoH), and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) may be established with assistance from Pure Earth and UNICEF.
It is also reassuring to know that the Agency will work with other regulators to develop the necessary standards for lead concentration in conventional aluminum cookware as well as the action plan on lead prevention and reduction. These regulators include the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), and others.
The EPA is taking steps to make sure that harmful production methods used in artisanal and informal recycling activities are restricted.
The Spectator applauds the EPA’s suggestions and calls on manufacturers to adhere to the rules in order to protect consumer safety.
We also hope that the government will give medical personnel the resources they need to inform the public about the risks associated with lead exposure.
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
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