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Lead Contamination On Food and Food Product in Nepal
Lead Contamination On Food and Food Product in Nepal
Email: dambarkhadkaDftqc@gmail.com,dambarkhadka@yahoo.com
Abstract: Heavy metals can enter a water supply by industrial and consumer waste, or even from acidic
rain breaking down soils and releasing heavy metals into streams, lakes, rivers, and groundwater, Traces of
lead are found in almost all food. A guideline for control and prevention along with development of
standard of lead contamination has to be developrd to reduce contamination on food in developing country
like Nepal. Analysis data on Annual Bulletin 2056-2062 published by DFTQC,.shows that Lead
contamination found altogether in 41.14 % food sample analyzed during this 6 year period.. The most
susceptible food item contaminated with Lead are found as rhizome containing spices, canned fish, dried
and smoke fish and shrimps respectively in increased order. Among all detected sample, only some Fish
and Fish product were found to contain higher than satuatory limits.
Introduction
Many metals naturally present on earths' surface are essential component of biological system. The toxic
metal and metalloid of dietary significance including Lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury are not needed
for biological process and tend to be toxic to living organism even at low concentration (Dingle 1992).
Heavy metals can enter a water supply by industrial and consumer waste, or even from acidic rain breaking
down soils and releasing heavy metals into streams, lakes, rivers, and groundwater. Heavy metals are
dangerous because they tend to bioaccumulate. Bioaccumulation means an increase in the concentration of
a chemical in a biological organism over time, compared to the chemical's concentration in the
environment. Compounds accumulate in living things any time as they are taken up and stored faster than
they are broken down (metabolized) or excreted. (Lenntech 2006).The main threats to human health from
heavy metals are associated with exposure to lead,
cadmium, mercury and arsenic. These metals
have been extensively studied and their effects on
human health regularly reviewed by international
bodies such as the WHO. Humans have used
heavy metals for thousands of years. Although
several adverse health effects of heavy metals
have been known for a long time, exposure to
heavy metals continues, and is even increasing in
some parts of the world, in particular in less
developed countries (Lars Järup). However, In
Nepal it is still matter of study.
Lead exposure is most serious for young children because they absorb lead more easily than adults absorb
and are more susceptible to its harmful effects. The system of body that is most affected by Lead poisoning
are nervous, renal, gastrointestinal and haematopoietiec system (Browning E 1969). Even low-level
exposure may harm the intellectual development, behavior, size and hearing of infants. During pregnancy,
especially in the last trimester, lead can cross the placenta and affect the unborn child. Female workers
exposed to high levels of lead have more miscarriages and stillbirths. About 10 % of ingesting Lead is
known to be absorbed through gastrointestinal tract of adults of which nearly three-fourth is excreted in
urine (Brown 1990). Lead is recognized as a cumulative general metabolic poison. Effect in children occurs
at lower levels than in adults (Bamji 1999).
The intake of leads through diets in urbans area in south India has been found to be in the range of 005-008
mg per day (Krishna Murthi 1991). According to PFA (1954) the satuatory limit of the Lead for canned
meat and fish shall not be exceed 1.5 mg per kg of leaf in meat and fish products and for other food 2.5 mg
per Kg.
%Lead
exposure pathways for infants and young children. For 100.00
% contaminated
Contaminated
3
80.00
infants up to 4 or 5 months of age, air, milk formulae and
64.
1
60.00
water are the significant sources. lead is among the most
41.
3.3
40.00
33
20.00
4.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.00
Today, industrial activities dominate the global flux of lead in
Can Fish
Turmeric
Milk
Cereals &
Shrimp
Ginger
Other
Vegetables
Conclusion:
The main threats to human health from heavy metals are associated with exposure to lead, cadmium,
mercury and arsenic. These metals have been extensively studied and their effects on human health
regularly reviewed by national and international bodies. Lead poisoning, which is so severe as to
cause evident illness. In developing country like Nepal Lead, contamination on food
and its control is still in pre-diagonalysis stage. Development of Mechanism for
identification possible source of lead contamination, standard and guideline to
prevention and reduction of lead contamination on food most reliable approach to be
improves to combat the threat of heavy metal like lead exposure. As Lead in the food
arises from both natural and anthropogenic sources This approaches should support Good
Agriculture practice and Good manufacture practice based on Agriculture, Drinking
water, Food Ingredient and processing, production and use of packaging and storage
products along with consumer practices.
References:
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2004 published by Codex Alimentarions.
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food available in Novisad in the period 1994 to 1999 VDC:616-006;612<39 (497.113) 1994-1999,
archive of oncology,2000:8(2):75-6,Institute of oncology in siemska Kamenica, Yogoaslavia.
3. www .health Canada.ca/yih; Effect of Lead on human health
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Department of environment, Commonwealths of Australia1997.
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publishing house Co. Pvt.Ltd.
8. Brown ML. A present knowledge in Nutrition (1990).6th Edition 447-484.
9. Krisnamurthi CR and Viswanath P. (1991) "Toxic metal in Indian Environment";Tata Mcgraw-
Hill Publishing Company Ltd. New delhi.
10. Prevention of food adulteration act and Rules 1954 and rules 1955. ( 1998) Akalank Publications
Delhi 1st edition.
11. Lars Järup (2003) "Hazards of heavy metal contamination "British Medical Bulletin 68:167-182
(2003); vol 68 no.1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College, London,
UK. E-mail: l.jarup@imperial.ac.uk
12. Lenntech Heavy metal; Lenntech water Treatment & air purification holding B.V Rotteedamsewag
402 M 2629 HH Delft,The Netherland
13. Annual Bulletin 2056/57 to2061/62, Department of Food Technology and Quality control,
Babarmahal , Kathmandu, Nepal
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exposure. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 143:1-45.