Single molecular hit from galamsey toxins may just cause most cancers — UEW toxicologist warns – Life Pulse Daily

Introduction

The issue of galamsey, Ghana’s unlawful mining activities, has reached a critical point, posing an existential public health risk to the population. According to Dr. Ekpor Anyimah-Ackah, a food systems toxicologist and health risk assessment expert at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), even a single molecular hit from galamsey toxins can cause cancer. This warning is based on the Single-Hit Model of Carcinogenesis, which provides the toxicological framework for understanding the risks posed by contaminants like arsenic.

Analysis

The Science of Risk: No Safe Threshold

The core concept of the Single-Hit Model is that a single molecular hit to DNA from a genotoxic agent can initiate cancer. Dr. Anyimah-Ackah explained that this means that every single exposure to arsenic, which galamsey operations leach into rivers, soils, and the food chain, increases the likelihood of malignancy. The chemical acts as a genotoxic initiator by inducing oxidative stress and causing strand breaks in DNA. This implies that the risk is proportional to the dose, confirming the Linear No-Threshold (LNT) model, which states that no safe dose exists.

Shocking Data: Unacceptable Cancer Risk in Infants

A recent study co-authored by Dr. Anyimah-Ackah and published in the American Journal of Biomedical Science & Research on June 6, 2025, validated this theoretical risk. The study analyzed arsenic exposure in a cohort of 427 infants aged 6-12 months in the Kadjebi District, Volta Region. The findings revealed a dire and unacceptable health burden, including excessive daily intake of arsenic, unacceptable hazard quotient, and high cancer incidence. The estimated daily intake of arsenic by these infants was calculated at a median of 0.10 ± 0.05 mg/kg/day, which vastly exceeds the recommended WHO/EFSA protection limit of 0.0003 mg/kg/day.

Summary

The study’s findings have significant implications for public health policy. The data provides a strong scientific foundation for calls to declare a state of emergency to address the galamsey crisis. The continued contamination of water and food implies that every Ghanaian is now facing a non-zero risk. The research reinforces the need for a drastic policy shift, with the national goal being zero exposure, not just reaching a ‘safe limit’.

Key Points

* A single molecular hit from galamsey toxins can cause cancer, according to the Single-Hit Model of Carcinogenesis.
* The risk of cancer is proportional to the dose, with no safe dose existing.
* A recent study found excessive daily intake of arsenic, unacceptable hazard quotient, and high cancer incidence in infants exposed to galamsey toxins.
* The estimated daily intake of arsenic by infants exceeded the recommended WHO/EFSA protection limit by a significant margin.
* The study’s findings provide a strong scientific foundation for declaring a state of emergency to address the galamsey crisis.

Conclusion

The galamsey crisis in Ghana poses a significant public health risk, with even a single molecular hit from galamsey toxins capable of causing cancer. The research by Dr. Anyimah-Ackah and his team provides a strong scientific foundation for urgent action to address this crisis. The government must take immediate steps to declare a state of emergency and implement a zero-exposure strategy to protect the population from the dangers of galamsey toxins.

FAQ

* What is the Single-Hit Model of Carcinogenesis?
The Single-Hit Model of Carcinogenesis is a toxicological framework that explains how a single molecular hit to DNA from a genotoxic agent can initiate cancer.
* What is the Linear No-Threshold (LNT) model?
The LNT model states that the risk of cancer is proportional to the dose, with no safe dose existing.
* What were the findings of the study on arsenic exposure in infants?
The study found excessive daily intake of arsenic, unacceptable hazard quotient, and high cancer incidence in infants exposed to galamsey toxins.

Generated Image

Image prompt: An illustration of a Ghanaian landscape with a polluted river, a galamsey site in the background, and a mother holding a baby in the foreground, with a caption “The galamsey crisis in Ghana: a public health emergency”.

Sources

* American Journal of Biomedical Science & Research
* World Health Organization (WHO)
* European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
* University of Education, Winneba (UEW)
* Multimedia Group Limited
* Myjoyonline.com