Potassium bromate in bread, health risks to bread consumers and toxicity symptoms amongst bakers in Bamenda, North West Region of Cameroon.

This study evaluated the occurrence of potassium bromate in bread, its overall health risks to bread consumers, and its toxicity symptoms amongst bakers in Bamenda. Thirteen bakeries were included in a cross-sectional survey to gather information about the quantities of bread produced and the symptoms of potassium-bromated toxicity experienced by bakers during baking. The concentration of potassium bromate in the most consumed bread types was determined using a spectrophotometric method. The hazard quotient and hazard ratio were computed for each bread type to determine its chemical and carcinogenic risks. Results showed that all bakers had experienced symptoms of potassium bromate toxicity, and painful eyes, cough, diarrhea, and sore throat were the most recurrent symptoms of toxicity. The concentration of potassium bromate in all bread samples (100%) ranged from 48.50 mg/kg to 10148.50 mg/kg, exceeding the maximum acceptable limits by 9-203 times the dose (50 mg/kg) recommended by Food and Drug Administration. There was no significant difference (p = 0.109) in potassium bromate concentration between bread types, and simple bread, milk bread, and French bread had the highest concentration of potassium bromate. The chronic hazard quotient ranged from 277.93 to 2459.36, and the hazard ratio ranged from 251434.30 to 32862.86, indicative of possible chemical and carcinogenic risks after prolonged regular consumption. From the hazard ratios, the chances of having cancer from an average daily consumption of either simple bread or milk bread, or French bread are approximately 290,000 in 1,000,000 or 220,000 in 1,000,000 or 190,000 in 1,000,000. Thus regulatory authorities need to monitor, control or prohibit the use of potassium bromate as a flour additive.

Ecological risk assessment of agricultural pesticides in the highly productive Ndop flood plain in Cameroon using the PRIMET model.

Flood plains can make a significant contribution to food security due to their rich agricultural and aquaculture potentials but the misuse of pesticides in these ecosystems may seriously threaten their sustainability. We have assessed the risk of commonly used pesticides by rice and vegetable farmers on two major streams in the Ndop flood plain in Cameroon using the PRIMET model. Thirty pesticide formulations were identified containing 17 active ingredients belonging to fungicides (7), herbicides (3), and insecticides (7). Out of these, five posed acute and/or chronic risks to the streams. Chlorpyriphos-ethyl (ETR = 655), chlorothalonil (ETR = 250), and cypermethrin (ETR = 190) posed a definite acute risk to both streams. These pesticides also posed possible chronic risks with cypermethrin also posing a definite chronic risk (ETR = 1658) to fish in one of the streams. Mancozeb (ETR = 2.2) and λ-cyhalothrin (ETR = 2.8) posed a possible acute risk to both streams. It was interesting to note that most pesticides, including some of those that posed a risk, were applied at lower doses than their respective recommended doses. Differences in ETRs were also observed in the two streams with higher values occurring in the stream having a lower concentration of suspended solids. The higher velocity of the Ngwala-Mesaw stream did not affect the acute risk posed by pesticides. Pesticide toxicity was an important determinant in the risk posed and we recommend that appropriate mitigation measures be put in place to reduce the risk of these pesticides such as the implementation of an appropriate buffer zone between the edge of field and water body.

An Institution-Based Assessment of Students' Hand Washing Behavior.

BACKGROUND: Hand hygiene is cost-effective and has been recognized as an effective measure in the control of communicable diseases. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the hand washing knowledge, practices, and skills of students in both private and public institutions of higher learning. METHODS: This was an institution-based cross-sectional study that included a mix of 577 university students from different disciplines (49.6% males and 50.4% females) with a mean age of 21.8 ± 3.5 years. Departments were selected at random, and the quota sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Hand washing knowledge, practices, and skills scores were assessed using a structured questionnaire. The differences in scores were further quantified across different factors using multiple quantile regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of hand washing with soap was 10.7%. Also, the majority of the study participants (75.2%) had a poor hand washing practices score. Age ≥29 years was associated with a 6.3% lower median hand washing knowledge score (p=0.039). Also, being in the public institution was significantly associated with 6.3%, 36.0%, and 10.0% lower median hand washing knowledge (p=0.021), practices (p < 0.001), and skills (p=0.025) scores, respectively. In addition, being a medical student (p=0.029) and washing hands ≥ six times a day (p=0.008) were significantly associated with an increase in the median hand washing knowledge score of 6.3% and 18.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Educational interventions need to be carried out to create awareness of the importance of hand washing and also to enhance the hand washing knowledge, practices, and skills of university students.