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- ItemAssessment of Mercury Levels in Omega-3 Food Supplements Available on the Ghanaian Market(Asian Journal of Applied Sciences (ISSN: 2321 – 0893), 2014-10-05) Acheampong, Akwasi; Darko, Godfred; Apau, Joseph; Oti-Boakye, Adolf; 0000-0001-7157-646XAs a measure to prevent cardiovascular diseases and enhance in-utero development of the foetus, adequate omega-3 intake has been recommended. This has led to the manufacture of omega-3 supplements by various pharmaceutical companies and these products have flooded the market. Coldwater fishes are the primary sources of the omega-3 food supplements but these fishes are known to have high levels of mercury in them. There is therefore the potential of mercury poisoning in the course of people taking the omega-3 food supplements. Mercury levels in ten products of Omega-3 food supplements have been determined in order to ascertain their safety for human consumption. The mean mercury levels determined for the ten brands were 0.0170.003 µg/g, 0.093 0.002 µg/g, 0.0210.003 µg/g, 0.2730.005 µg/g, 0.1230.004 µg/g, 0.06580.001 µg/g, 0.0180.005 µg/g, 0.0260.008 µg/g, 0.4280.002 µg/g, 0.4280.002 µg/g, 0.0290.004 µg/g. All the levels of mercury determined were within the acceptable limits stipulated by Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization, and therefore do not pose any health threat to consumers.
- ItemConcentrations and Health Risk Assessments of Heavy Metals in Fish from the Fosu Lagoon(Int. J. Environ. Res., 2014) Akoto,O; Eshun, Bismark F.; Darko, Godfred; Adei, E.; 0000-0001-7157-646XConcentrations of Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd, Mn, Ni, Fe and Zn were determined in the muscle samples of Sarotherodon melanotheron from the Fosu Lagoon in Cape Coast using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that, metal concentration in the fish muscle was in the order Mn > Zn > Fe > Pb > Ni > Cd > Cu > Cr. Mean concentrations of Pb and Cd in the fish exceeded the maximum tolerable limit set by the European Union. Although the mean concentrations of some metals exceeded this limit, their estimated daily intakes were below their oral reference dose recommended by the international regulatory bodies. Health risk assessment of consumers from the intake of metal contaminated in the muscle of S. melanotheron from the lagoon was evaluated by using Health Risk Index (HRI) calculations. In this study, the total HRI through consumption of fish calculated by adding the individual HRIs was less than 1, indicating that there is no significant potential health risk associated with the consumption of fish from the Fosu Lagoon.
- ItemDietary intake of organophosphorus pesticide residues through vegetables from Kumasi, Ghana(Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2008-09-22) Darko, Godfred; Osei, Akoto; 0000-0001-7157-646XContamination and health risk hazards of organophosphorus pesticides residues in vegetables were studied. Ethyl-chlorpyrifos, observed at an average level of 0.211 ± 0.010 mg kg1 in 42% of tomato, 0.096 ± 0.035 mg kg1 in 10% of eggplant and 0.021 ± 0.013 mg kg1 in 16% of pepper was below the 0.5 mg kg1 MRL. Dichlorvos was the most frequently detected residue in all the samples analyzed. Levels of malathion in tomatoes (0.120 ± 0.101 mg kg1) and pepper (0.143 ± 0.042 mg kg1) exceeded the MRL of 0.1 mg kg1. Health risks were found to be associated with methyl-chlorpyrifos, ethyl-chlorpyrifos, and omethioate in tomatoes and methyl-chlorpyrifos, ethyl-chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, monocrotophos and omethioate in eggplant. Routine monitoring of these pollutants in food items is required to prevent, control and reduce the pollution and to minimize health risks.