Recent research and media stories have drawn consideration to the rising risk of heavy metallic contamination in Ghana’s meals system, significantly in fruit and veggies grown close to unlawful mining websites. Alarming ranges of mercury, lead and arsenic have been present in meals samples and fish throughout mining-affected areas. These metals, launched by way of galamsey actions, injury soil fertility, pollute rivers, and endanger public well being. While we all know that consuming extra fruit and veggies is vital for good well being, galamsey threatens to undermine this very basis of diet.

How Galamsey Affects Food Security

Illegal mining is not only about pits and rivers turned brown. It straight disrupts meals safety in a number of methods. It destroys arable land and contaminates rivers and streams with mercury, lead, and different pollution, leaving much less fertile soil and unsafe water for farming. As a end result, meals manufacturing declines, and plenty of farming households are displaced from their lands. The lure of fast revenue from mining additionally attracts younger individuals away from agriculture, additional lowering the labour drive wanted for meals manufacturing. These disruptions result in increased meals costs and restricted entry to protected, numerous produce, forcing many households to rely upon cheaper, ultra-processed meals that compromise diet and well being.

The Hidden Dangers of Heavy Metals

Heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic are poisonous even in small quantities. They enter our our bodies by way of contaminated water, meals, and air. Once inside, they will:

• Damage tissues by creating dangerous molecules (reactive oxygyen species).
• Interfere with very important enzymes and proteins.
• Damage DNA, elevating most cancers dangers.

The well being penalties are extreme: neurological injury, decreased IQ in youngsters, kidney illness, bone weak spot, hypertension, reproductive issues, and elevated threat of cancers amongst different damaging well being results. The hazard lies within the power publicity with small quantities accumulating within the physique over time.

So, Should We Stop Eating Fruits and Vegetables?

Fruits and greens stay important for well being and should be eaten. The first and maybe most crucial step towards restoring confidence in our meals system is for presidency to behave urgently to guard the nation’s meals provide from the rising risk of galamsey. Stronger regulation and enforcement are wanted now to cease unlawful mining and safeguard agricultural lands and water our bodies from additional destruction. Regular monitoring of meals and water security, backed by clear public reporting, ought to turn into a nationwide precedence.

What Steps Individuals and Households Can Take to Stay Safe

1. Source fruit and veggies from safer areas – Buy produce from markets or farms situated removed from mining zones can cut back threat of publicity.
2. Wash produce completely underneath working water – Washing fruit and veggies underneath clear working water removes a lot of the soil and floor residues which will comprise contaminants. Though washing might not remove contaminants already absorbed by the plant, it stays some of the efficient family measures for lowering threat.
3. Peel skins of fruit and veggies the place doable – Peeling helps take away floor contaminants that washing may miss and might considerably cut back heavy metallic consumption, particularly for produce like yams, cassava, cucumbers, and mangoes.
4. Boil greens and discard the cooking water – Research reveals that boiling leafy greens similar to kontomire, lettuce, and spring onions, then discarding the cooking water, can drastically decrease contaminant ranges. Although some heat-sensitive vitamins could also be misplaced, this stays some of the sensible strategies for households residing in or close to mining areas to cut back publicity.
5. Grow yard gardens utilizing protected soil and water sources – Household gardens supply a strategy to management how meals is grown and to make sure cleaner produce. However, they’re solely as protected because the soil and water used.

In Summary

Protecting our meals system from the galamsey menace begins with collective accountability – people and households making knowledgeable decisions and taking precautions, and authorities implementing strict environmental and meals security laws. When customers stay vigilant and policymakers act decisively, Ghana can take an important step towards making certain that each citizen can eat fruit and veggies with out worry.

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Written by Dr. Laurene Boateng (PhD, RD)
Dr. Laurene Boateng is a Registered Dietitian and Senior Lecturer within the Department of Dietetics, University of Ghana. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of Full Proof Nutrition, a Nutrition Consultancy dedicated to offering dependable, evidence-based, and sensible wholesome consuming recommendation by way of its web site www.fullproofnutrition.com.  Click right here to affix Full Proof Nutrition WhatsApp channel to obtain extra educative content material. Send us a mail on fullproofnutrition@gmail.com

References

1. Atitsogbey, P., Kyereh, E., Ofori, H., Johnson, P.-N. T., & Steiner-Asiedu, M. (2023). Heavy metallic, microbial and pesticides residue contaminations are limiting the potential consumption of inexperienced leafy greens in Ghana: An overview. PMC / NCBI.
2. Adoma, P. O., et al. (2024). Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Lettuce and Spring Onion in Ghana. PMC / NCBI.
3. Adjei-Mensah, R., et al. (2021). Effect of dwelling processing strategies on the degrees of heavy metals in greens grown close to mining areas. ScienceDirect.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform don’t essentially signify the views or coverage of Multimedia Group Limited.