Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 12: 642 - 649. Published November 24, 2008.
Environmental lead pollution and food safety around Kampala City in Uganda
Leonard R. Mghweno*^, Anselimo O. Makokha**, Happy S. Magoha***, John M. Wekesa**, Amina Nakajugo*"
*^Bugema University, P.O. Box 6529, Kampala, Uganda; **Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; ***Open University of Tanzania, P.O. Box 23409, Dar-as-Salaam, Tanzania; *"Islamic University in Uganda, P.O. Box 11945, Kampala, Uganda.
^Corresponding author e–mail:leomghweno@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine lead levels in the environment and foods around Kampala city in Uganda and assess its implications to human health.
Methodology and results: The lead content in samples of soil, water and food was determined by spectrophotometry. The lead content in water samples from Lake Victoria and tap water ranged from 0.32 to 1.25 and 0.09 to 0.19 mg/100ml, respectively. Lead content in soil ranged from 0.17 to 0.88 and from 0.10 to 0.32 mg/100g for samples obtained along the highway, and at least 2 km away from the highway, respectively. The lead content in vegetables grown alongside highways ranged from 0.53 to 0.95, as compared to 0.10 to 0.62 mg/100g for vegetables obtained from markets.
Conclusion and application of results: The results indicate that there is significant lead pollution in the environment posing a high risk of exposure to people, animals, and plants. The lead content in all the water samples was above the maximum WHO limits. These results are useful in raising awareness about the risk of lead contamination to human health and in the enactment of policies and regulatory measures to limit lead pollution and contamination in foods and the environment in Uganda.
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