From Hauwa'u Mohammed Keffi
Prof. Bitrus Tukura, a Professor of Chemistry at Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK), has warned that exposure to environmental pollution by heavy metals and pesticides remains a global threat.
Tukura made this statement during the presentation of the institution's 41st Inaugural Lecture held at the university in Keffi, Nasarawa State, on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the topic of the lecture was "Heavy Metals and Pesticides in the Environment: Good Enemies of Food Safety and Security".
According to Tukura, these exposures pose a significant threat to food safety and security, especially in developing countries where poverty, lack of investment in modern technology, and weak environmental legislation contribute to high pollution levels.
Tukura called on the federal government to implement measures for regular monitoring of levels of heavy metals and pesticides in environmental matrices, as well as in resident biota and food crops.
He emphasized that regular monitoring would provide valuable information about their speciation, principal sources, fate in the environment, and bioaccumulation in food chains.
"This information can be used for risk assessment of chemical pollutants to human health," he added.
He also stressed the importance of educating the public about the harmful effects of heavy metals and pesticides on human health and the environment.
"There is a need to minimize their contamination in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems to safeguard both biota and the health of consumers," he said.
Tukura further urged the federal government to support, promote, and encourage scientific research on environmental assessment of chemical pollutants by allocating appropriate funds to protect human health and the environment.
"Governments, through established agencies and organizations, should implement and enforce existing environmental safety laws for a cleaner environment and effective food safety systems," he concluded.
In her opening remarks, Prof. Sa'adatu Liman, Vice Chancellor of NSUK, described the choice of topic as apt, given the recent focus on food safety and security in the country.
"We all know that food is becoming an increasingly important issue, and the environment is contaminated with various impurities, including heavy metals and pesticides. Even the fertilizers we are using have a negative impact on food safety and security. Our soil is becoming exhausted, and environmental climate change is affecting food production," she said.
Liman, represented by Prof. Abdullahi Modibbo, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of the university, assured that during her tenure as VC of NSUK, the monthly Inaugural Lecture series initiated by her predecessor, Prof. Suleiman Bala-Mohammed, would be sustained and even surpassed.
