The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Prof. Nana Ama Klutse, has raised concerns about the presence of lead in some traditional Ghanaian cookware known as ‘dad3sen’ and its potential health implications, particularly for children.
The disclosure comes in the wake of a study highlighting the dangers of e-waste burning at Agbogbloshie, a major e-waste processing site in Accra.
During an interview on GTV, Prof. Klutse revealed that research conducted in collaboration with an NGO identified significant levels of lead in ‘dad3sen’, a type of metal cookware commonly used to prepare traditional dishes like banku.
“We see that at Agbogbloshie, people dig the aluminum from there and use it for our cookware. In the process, they add lead, so in our research, we found lead in our cookware… yes, the dad3sen that we use to cook banku and all of that, we have found not just traces of lead, but in large quantities,” she stated.
The CEO emphasized the health risks associated with lead exposure, noting that lead is poisonous and dangerous for human health.
“We’ve seen lead in our blood; it’s poisonous for our health. We’ve conducted research with an NGO, I have forgotten the name, that saw that there is lead that has been identified in the hair of children, the blood of children, and all of that. That’s dangerous for our health,” she added.
The revelation comes on the back of previous studies that have documented the severe health impacts of e-waste processing at Agbogbloshie.
A 2024 study by Pure Earth’s Blacksmith Initiative, spanning four regions in Ghana, found alarming levels of lead contamination in ‘dad3sen’, attributing it to the informal recycling practices at the site. The study highlighted that 55% of the lead in the cookware leached into food during cooking, posing a significant risk to consumers, particularly vulnerable populations like children.
The EPA’s warning comes at a time when Agbogbloshie remains a focal point for e-waste dumping, with an estimated 85% of the waste originating from within West Africa, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.
The burning of electronic waste to extract valuable metals like aluminium and copper releases toxic substances, including lead, into the environment, which then contaminates local products and poses health risks to residents.
UNICEF Ghana has also reported that over 1.7 million children in Ghana are estimated to have blood lead levels exceeding 5 micrograms per deciliter, a level of concern as defined by the World Health Organization.
Sources of lead exposure include e-waste, traditional medicines, cosmetic eyeliners, and lead-based paints,
Prof. Klutse has called for increased awareness and stricter regulations to mitigate the health risks associated with lead contamination. “Lead is dangerous for our health, and we must take action to protect our communities, especially our children,” she urged.
Ghanaweb
