The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos, has warned that the rising cases of organ failure and cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria may be connected to foods processed with locally fabricated grinding machines.
The Director-General of FIIRO, Dr. Jummai Adamu Tutuwa, cited findings showing that many locally made grinders used to process tomatoes, peppers, onions, melon seeds, and other staples contain traces of heavy metals. According to her, detected substances include lead, copper, chromium, nickel, cadmium, and manganese, alongside non-heavy metals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron.
“Prolonged consumption of food contaminated with these metals may contribute to increasing cases of cardiovascular diseases and organ failure, even among young adults,” Dr. Tutuwa warned.
She noted that contamination levels in some areas exceeded safety thresholds set by the World Health Organization(WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), particularly in regions with heavy traffic and industrial activity.
Explaining the health risks, Dr. Tutuwa said heavy metals occur naturally but become dangerous when they accumulate excessively in the food chain — a process known as bioaccumulation. She singled out cadmium as a major ecotoxicological concern due to its widespread industrial use and potential long-term health effects.
The FIIRO boss called for stricter regulation of locally fabricated food-processing equipment, stronger enforcement of safety standards, and increased public awareness to help reduce the burden of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and organ failure across the country.
