Turmeric Consumption and Possible Lead Contamination: A Concern for Public Health?

Author: Lauren Anthony

Author Origin Country: Canada

Photo credit: Largeman-Roth, F. (2020). How to cook with turmeric: 16 easy recipes to get you started. Today. https://www.today.com/food/how-cook-turmeric-super-healthy-trendy-root-t43536

Turmeric is a spice commonly used in particularly South Asian nations and globally. Although turmeric consumption may often be promoted for health reasons like improving cardiovascular health, turmeric products may sometimes be contaminated by the heavy metal of lead. Lead exposure in humans can have harmful health impacts, including for cardiovascular, neurological, and reproductive health. These harmful health impacts can also negatively impact broader nations in terms of the economy and society, including due to economic losses from productivity loss as a result of cognitive impacts from lead poisoning. Lead exposure and lead poisoning may particularly be of concern among children within lower-income nations. Turmeric can be contaminated from lead when some turmeric processers add lead chromate to turmeric products for reasons including meeting the demand for the bright yellow colour in curry. Lead exposure from turmeric may impact populations in Bangladesh, and globally. Various possible solutions to this critical public health issue will also be addressed.

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Turmeric Consumption and Possible Lead Contamination- A Concern for Public Health in Bangl.

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