Pollution Shield: 3 Simple Foods May Be the Key to Protecting You from Air Pollution

For the thousands of people who work outdoors in Accra, Ghana's capital city, breathing polluted air is a daily reality. A new study has found that a simple change to their diets may help protect them from the health effects of air pollution.

A Shield of Nutrition

The study, led by Professor Kofi Amegah, an Associate Professor of Environmental and Nutritional Epidemiology at the University of Cape Coast, followed 307 street vendors in Accra for 12 months. The researchers divided the vendors into two groups: one received a weekly supply of foods rich in antioxidants, including oranges, peanuts, sunflower oil, eggs, and sardines, while the other continued with their usual diets.

The study focused on vendors who worked along some of Accra's busiest roads, including Atomic Junction, Madina, Lapaz, Tetteh Quarshie, Kaneshie, Graphic Road, Makola, and Kwame Nkrumah Circle. These areas are exposed to thousands of vehicles every day, making the vendors' work environment particularly hazardous.

The Power of Antioxidants

The researchers found that the vendors who regularly ate the antioxidant-rich foods reported fewer symptoms associated with air pollution. They were 55 percent less likely to develop a persistent cough, 60 percent less likely to experience difficulty breathing, and 81 percent less likely to suffer dizziness. The biggest difference was recorded in irregular heartbeat, with vendors who received the food intervention being 92 percent less likely to experience the condition.

The researchers attribute the findings to the ability of antioxidants to mop up free radicals, which are produced when pollution enters the body. Antioxidants are substances found naturally in many foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and cooking oils.

A Call to Action

Professor Amegah cautions that changing diets cannot replace efforts to clean up Ghana's air. "So what we need to understand is that this is not a substitute for air quality regulations," he says. "So we need to have air quality regulations that will help to curb the air pollution problem in our area." The World Health Organization recommends that the 24-hour average level of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 micrograms per cubic metre.

The researchers stress that the study does not mean people should simply eat oranges or sardines and continue breathing polluted air. Instead, they say better nutrition could be one part of a wider response while Ghana works to reduce the pollution that people are exposed to every day.

A Wider Response

For the thousands of people whose workplaces are Accra's busy roads and markets, that wider response cannot come soon enough. Professor Amegah says the solution must combine personal protection with stronger action from government and local authorities. "So every street vendor across Ghana needs to protect themselves by, one, mitigating or minimizing their exposure by wearing nose masks, etc. And then also eating well, eating a balanced diet, and importantly, eating antioxidant-rich food."

But he says the greater responsibility lies in reducing pollution at its source. "Oh, the call on government is what we are saying, that they need to invest in air pollution control. They need to support the municipal, metropolitan, and district assemblies. So that at least we can be able to address the air pollution problem, which is worsening in our space on a daily basis."

The study's findings come as Ghana continues to deal with air pollution from several sources, including vehicle emissions, open burning, household fuels, and industrial activities. The researchers' recommendations highlight the importance of a comprehensive approach to addressing air pollution in Ghana.

Source: Joy Online