Persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals in Ghanaian environment: a systematic review of food safety implications

Abdulai, Prosper Manu; Sam, Kabari; Onyena, Amarachi Paschaline; Ezejiofor, Anthoneth Ndidi; Frazzoli, Chiara; Ekhator, Osazuwa Clinton; Udom, Godswill J.; Frimpong, Caleb Kesse; Nriagu, Jerome; Orisakwe, Orish Ebere

doi:10.1007/s10661-024-12500-w

Environ Monit Assess

2024

DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12500-w

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Persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals in Ghanaian environment: a systematic review of food safety implications

Prosper Manu Abdulai,

Kabari Sam,

Amarachi Paschaline Onyena

et al.

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Cited by 2 publications

References 145 publications

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Bi2MoO6/ZnIn2S4 S-scheme heterojunction containing oxygen vacancies for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant

Wang,

Lin,

Yang

et al. 2025

Journal of Molecular Structure

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Bi2MoO6/ZnIn2S4 S-scheme heterojunction containing oxygen vacancies for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant

Wang,

Lin,

Yang

et al. 2025

Journal of Molecular Structure

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A multi-year heavy metal analysis of 72 dark chocolate and cocoa products in the USA

Hands,

Anderson,

Cooperman

et al. 2024

Front. Nutr.

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IntroductionContamination of cocoa containing products, such as dark chocolate, with heavy metals including lead, cadmium and arsenic has been reported in the US. However, a formal exploration into the significance of this contamination, nor multi-year trends in the degree or scope remain unresolved.MethodsFrom 2014 to 2022, 72 consumer cocoa-containing products were purchased and analyzed for heavy metal contamination with lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) in 4 distinct cohorts (2014, 2016, 2019, 2022). The thresholds used to assess heavy metal contamination were set to Prop 65 maximum allowable dose levels (MADLs) of 0.5 mcg/day, 4.1 mcg/day, 10 mcg/day for Pb, Cd, and As, respectively.Results and discussionOur analysis reports that 43, 35, and 0% of the products tested exceed Prop 65 MADLs for heavy metal concentrations, respectively, of Pb, Cd, and As, while 97.2% (70 of 72) fall below US FDA IRL limits established for Pb. Median concentrations of each metal tested were lower than even the conservative Prop 65 MADLs, indicating a potentially large effect of product outliers. This indicates that heavy metal contamination—in more than half of products tested—may not pose any appreciable risk for the average person when consumed as a single serving; however, consuming some of the products tested, or more than one serving per day in combination with non-cocoa derived sources heavy metals, may add up to exposure that would exceed the Prop 65 MADLs. Notably, “organic” products were significantly more likely to demonstrate higher levels of both Cd and Pb.

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Persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals in Ghanaian environment: a systematic review of food safety implications

Cited by 2 publications

References 145 publications

Bi2MoO6/ZnIn2S4 S-scheme heterojunction containing oxygen vacancies for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant

Bi2MoO6/ZnIn2S4 S-scheme heterojunction containing oxygen vacancies for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant

A multi-year heavy metal analysis of 72 dark chocolate and cocoa products in the USA

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