Artificially Ripen Fruits Cause Cancer – expert
Artificially Ripen Fruits Cause Cancer – expert
Dr Mustapha Bature, Clinical Mentor, Kebbi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, has warned that consumption of fruits such as mango, banana, pawpaw and plantain, artificially ripened by Calcium Carbide can cause cancer.
Bature made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.
According to Wikipedia, Calcium carbide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula of CaC₂.
Its main use industrially is in the production of acetylene and calcium cyanamide.
However, the chemical is being used to ripen fruits by some fruit vendors in Nigeria.
The medical expert warned that the fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide are not good for consumption because such chemicals used in ripening the fruits contain radio-active elements.
According to Bature, people who are exposed to Silicon Carbide are likely to come up with lungs cancer.
He said a research was also conducted in a factory where workers are exposed to Silicon Carbide; the findings revealed that such workers come-up with lungs cancer after prolong exposure.
He said prolong exposure to both silicon and calcium carbide causes cancer.
Bature advised that fruits exposed to such chemicals should be washed with running water for about two to five minutes before consumption.
He added that fruits such as mango should be peeled after washing before consumption.
Bature said government should design a national policy to stop artificial ripening of fruits and implement such policy when enacted properly.
Besides, he urged the National Orientation Agency and other key stakeholders to sensitive the public on the best ways to identify such fruits and health implications of consuming such fruits.
Dr Mustapha Bature, Clinical Mentor, Kebbi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, has warned that consumption of fruits such as mango, banana, pawpaw and plantain, artificially ripened by Calcium Carbide can cause cancer.
Bature made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.
According to Wikipedia, Calcium carbide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula of CaC₂.
Its main use industrially is in the production of acetylene and calcium cyanamide.
However, the chemical is being used to ripen fruits by some fruit vendors in Nigeria.
The medical expert warned that the fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide are not good for consumption because such chemicals used in ripening the fruits contain radio-active elements.
According to Bature, people who are exposed to Silicon Carbide are likely to come up with lungs cancer.
He said a research was also conducted in a factory where workers are exposed to Silicon Carbide; the findings revealed that such workers come-up with lungs cancer after prolong exposure.
He said prolong exposure to both silicon and calcium carbide causes cancer.
Bature advised that fruits exposed to such chemicals should be washed with running water for about two to five minutes before consumption.
He added that fruits such as mango should be peeled after washing before consumption.
Bature said government should design a national policy to stop artificial ripening of fruits and implement such policy when enacted properly.
Besides, he urged the National Orientation Agency and other key stakeholders to sensitive the public on the best ways to identify such fruits and health implications of consuming such fruits.
Source
News Agency of Nigeria
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