Breast milk, which is deemed the most hygienic and nutritious food for
babies, is becoming contaminated from chemicals found in e-waste and
plastics.
A research by the Water Research Institute (WRI) of the Council for
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has revealed that the harmful
chemicals found in plastics, electricity transformers, paints,
capacitors and from bad disposal of electronic waste cause birth
defects.
They also cause cancers, as well as defective neuro-development in children, among other things.
Dr
Kwadwo Ansong Asante, a Senior Scientist at the CSIR, made this known
when briefing his fellow scientists during an internal seminar on the
research in Accra yesterday.
The research assessed levels of halogenated contaminants in human breast milk in Ghana.
Some of the analyses were done in Japan.
Halogenates
consist of brominates flame retardants (BRFRs) such as polybrominated
diphenyl ether (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) which are
widely used in polymers and consumer products to minimise the extent of
fire or slow down combustion of these materials.
The other is
polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), which also contaminates the environment
and is used in hydraulic fluids, insulating oil for electricity
transformers, capacitors, plasticisers, adhesives and paints.
Plasticisers are added to make plastic products soft.
Dr Asante
explained that the research, which was done at the various e-waste
points in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale, indicated that due to the poor
disposal of such chemicals, they found their way into the food of some
mothers.
“Estimated hazard quotient via human milk showed that
all the PCBS values exceeded the threshold of one, indicating potential
health risk for newborns,” he said.
Dr Asante said although
breastfeeding should be encouraged because of the well-documented
benefits, efforts must be made to lower contaminants in breast milk, so
that protective measures would be initiated to avoid potential harmful
effects to the newborn.
He said although Ghana did not produce
PBCBs, the illegal and uncontrolled usage of PCB oils also known as
“dirty oil” and obsolete equipment should be of concern as potential
sources.
He said they were also in high quantities during the
disposal of e–waste and also contaminated water from textile coating and
production of insulation boards.
Another research revealed that
pollution from the burning of e-waste at Agbogbloshie was highly
cancerous through inhalation and skin contact.
Mr Samuel Obiri,
another scientist with the CSIR made the revelation when he presented
another finding on “Human health risk assessment as a result of exposure
to e-waste at Agbogbloshie Scrap yard, Ghana”.
He said the
cansogenic substances were released into the water bodies which run to
the sea, thereby contaminating the fish in the sea and those who took
such fish were prone to cancer and children would also have very low
intelligent quotient.
He said the worst affected were those who
undertook recycling of materials through burning, and added that they
were seriously susceptible to cancers.
Mr Obiri said the entire
test conducted indicated that the level of pollution in the area and its
surroundings far exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) permissive
levels.
PUBLISHED: October 4, 2013
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