Dhaka:Locally made aluminium cooking pots in Bangladesh have been found to release lead into cooked food, particularly during their initial uses, according to a study conducted by icddr,b and Stanford University.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the research highlights the potential harm to children's brain development due to lead exposure from cookware. Researchers are advocating for safer cookware options and clearer guidance for households. In Bangladesh, the common practice of exchanging old aluminium utensils for new ones raises concerns, as newness does not guarantee safety. These pots are often made from melted scrap metal without proper checks, leading to lead contamination.
The study, published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology by Nature, measured lead transfer from locally made aluminium pots into food. It examined factors like acidity, cleaning, and cooking habits. Researchers tested seven used pots from local households and 20 new pots from a supplier, analyzing lead content in the metal, as well as in rice and khichuri cooked in these pots.
Dr. Jenna Forsyth of Stanford University noted that lead was released from every pot tested. Initial cooking in new pots showed rice containing up to 305 micrograms of lead per kilogram and khichuri up to 420 micrograms per kilogram, compared to the US FDA limit of 10 micrograms per kilogram for children's food. Although lead levels decreased with repeated use, they were still present in subsequent usages. Cleaning methods impacted lead release, with scrubbing and metal spatula use increasing it.
The study estimated that a child consuming rice cooked in these pots could ingest over five times the FDA's reference level for daily lead intake, highlighting a significant health risk.