Atitsogbey Patience, Kyereh Emmanuel, Ofori Hayford, Johnson Paa-Nii T, Steiner-Asiedu Matilda
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Box LG134, Ghana.
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Food Research Institute, Box M.20, Accra, Ghana.
Heliyon. 2023 Apr 14;9(4):e15466. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15466. eCollection 2023 Apr.
Green leafy vegetables (such as cocoyam ( spp) leaves, spinach ( spp), amaranths ( spp), roselle leaves ( spp), and lettuce ( spp)) form a major part of Ghanaian meals providing essential vitamin such as A, B and C and minerals including iron and calcium as well as essential bioactive compounds. However, the practices involved in the production, distribution and handling of these nutrient rich vegetables, by most value chain actors in Ghana, unfortunately pre-dispose them to contamination with pathogens, heavy metals and pesticides residues. These have therefore raised public health concerns regarding the safety and quality of these green leafy vegetables. Understanding the current perspectives of the type of pathogens, heavy metals and pesticide contaminants that are found in leafy vegetables and their health impacts on consumers will go a long way in helping to identify appropriate mitigation measures that could be used to improve the practices involved and thereby help safeguard human health. This review examined reported cases of microbial, heavy metal and pesticides residue contamination of green leafy vegetables in Ghana from 2005 to 2022. Notable pathogenic microorganisms were eggs and larvae, faecal coliform, spp., , In addition, Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cr), Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu) and Manganese (Mn) have been detected in green leafy vegetables over the years in most Ghanaian cities. Pesticides residues from organochlorine, organophosphorus and synthetic pyrethroid have also been reported. Overall, microbial, heavy metals and pesticide residue contamination of Ghanaian green leafy vegetables on the farms and markets were significant. Hence, mitigation measures to curb the contamination of these vegetables, through the food chain, is urgently required to safeguard public health.
绿叶蔬菜（如芋头叶、菠菜、苋菜、玫瑰茄叶和生菜）是加纳人饮食的主要组成部分，提供维生素A、B、C等必需维生素以及铁、钙等矿物质和必需的生物活性化合物。然而，加纳大多数价值链参与者在这些营养丰富的蔬菜的生产、分销和处理过程中所采用的做法，不幸地使它们容易受到病原体、重金属和农药残留的污染。因此，这些情况引发了公众对这些绿叶蔬菜的安全性和质量的担忧。了解绿叶蔬菜中发现的病原体、重金属和农药污染物的类型及其对消费者健康的影响，将大大有助于确定可用于改进相关做法的适当缓解措施，从而有助于保障人类健康。本综述研究了2005年至2022年加纳绿叶蔬菜微生物、重金属和农药残留污染的报告案例。值得注意的致病微生物有蛔虫卵和幼虫、粪大肠菌群、沙门氏菌属、志贺氏菌属。此外，多年来在加纳大多数城市的绿叶蔬菜中都检测到了铅（Pb）、镉（Cd）、铬（Cr）、锌（Zn）、铁（Fe）、铜（Cu）和锰（Mn）。也有有机氯、有机磷和拟除虫菊酯类农药残留的报告。总体而言，加纳农场和市场上的绿叶蔬菜的微生物、重金属和农药残留污染情况严重。因此，迫切需要采取缓解措施来遏制这些蔬菜在食物链中的污染，以保障公众健康。
