Trying to get away from the ubiquitous specks of dust in the busy environs of Accra and only to experience same dust in one’s home is an inevitable phenomenon everyone has to live with. However, house dust in Accra has been found to contain high concentrations of lead compared to dust in US or China, a research has shown.

These elevated lead concentrations are explained to have likely come from “nearby electronic recycling operations. Old wiring and circuitry are burned to extract metals, causing trace metals such as lead, nickel and copper to fall out as dust across the city”.

Globally, the research found that the concentrations of lead were higher in detached and semidetached homes, likely due to the ingress of outdoor legacy trace metals.

“[These trace metals] commonly include inputs not only from past leaded gasoline usage and exterior Pb (lead) paints but also from treated timbers and pesticides”.
Research

Researchers from across the world united to capture the world’s first trans-continental data on household dust. Data was gathered from people in 35 countries who vacuumed their homes and sent their dust to universities in different countries, where it was tested for potentially toxic trace metals.

Everybody is Exposed to Contaminants in Home Dust

The researchers gathered data on the human and household factors that might affect how much humans are exposed to these contaminants. The findings shed new light on the sources and risks associated with trace metal exposure, which can lead to concerning neurocognitive effects in people of all ages.

The study revealed it doesn’t matter whether you live in a high or low income country, are rich or poor– we’re all exposed to contaminants via dust.

According to the study, local environmental factors and contamination histories can make a difference.

In places like New Caledonia, high chromium, nickel and manganese were evident, due to local rock, soil and nickel smelters. These may be associated with increased lung and thyroid cancers in New Caledonia.

In New Zealand, arsenic concentrations are naturally high. One in three New Zealand homes exceeded the acceptable health risk for children under two, set by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Australia has concerning levels of arsenic and lead contamination in house dust. One in six Australian homes exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency acceptable health risk.

Arsenic exposure can increase cancer risk and cause problems to respiratory health and immune function. Lead can affect children’s brain and nervous system development, causing behavioral and developmental problems.

Ghana Ranks 7^th country with high contaminants

Cumulative exposure to trace metals has been significantly associated with health impacts such as obesity, hypertension, and type-2 diabetes.

The study found that interactions between mixed agents (including trace metals) are likely to be significant in the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as the parkinson’s disease.

The study also calculated a comparative enrichment measure for each of the countries called a cumulative enrichment factor (CEF) by summing up EFs for Arsenic (As), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and Zn.

It revealed the CEF was greatest in Australia, followed by China, New Zealand, the USA, New Caledonia, Greece, Ghana, the UK, Mexico and Nigeria, in that order.

However, regional variations were present, with the greatest enrichment of Arsenic in New Zealand, Chromium and Nickel in New Caledonia, Copper in the US and Lead in Australia and Ghana.

Controlling Risks to Contaminants

The study indicated frequent vacuuming, mopping and dusting with a damp cloth can reduce one’s risk. Vacuuming reduces contaminants like microplastics in house dust. If one lives in an older home, keep the paint in good condition so it does not flake off.

When painting or renovating, follow safety guidance from your state’s environmental protection authority— or call a professional.

Hobbies involving lead, like fishing, shooting and metal work, can affect your trace metal exposure. Choosing not to smoke inside will reduce exposures to chromium and manganese.

Also, households should cover exposed soil in garden with mulch or grass, use a dual system of outdoor and indoor mats, take shoes off at the door and towel down muddy pets before letting them inside.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the increase in spending more time indoors, there is growing international interest in setting public health guidelines for chemicals in indoor settled dust.

Unlike Ghana, Australia and the US, have guidance for lead dust, although not for other contaminants. This poses huge risks for people in the cities of Accra who have been found to be highly exposed to lead particles in home dust.