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Environmental contamination of food
Without our care and concern for our environment, how can we expect our environment t o be a clean and free from contaminants? As a result, substances that are harmful to our health may then enter our food supply.
The most common contaminants are so called 'heavy metals', notably mercury, lead and cadmium, not to forget pesticides and industrial chemicals.
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Disposal
Many industries dispose of their waste into the sea, causing many sea creatures such as fishes, shellfish to be contaminated with mercury. As a result, people who consume these seafood will get food poisoning. There may be the presence of lead in some older pieces of china, or for a smooth, transparent glaze, and appealing bright colors on ceramic plates. Acid foods such as spaghetti sauces, salad dressings, and beverages, like coffee or tea, leach lead from these dishes at a faster rate. Heating food with such lead-containing containers, and containing the food in such containers for a longer period of time increases the rate of lead transfer into the food. The consumption of these food, will thus cause lead poisoning in us.
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Contaminants
As a result of industrial and mining operations, rice, soya bean and seafood may be contaminated at a higher rate, which may lead to cadmium poisoning. Also, animal kidneys are generally higher in cadmium than other foods. Also, there is a wide use of pesticides in farming. If there is no decrease of these usage, these contaminants will enter water sources, such as rivers and lakes through surface runoff. As these contaminants are being consumed by sea creatures, or taken in by plants, we, consumers of these food, will then suffer as a result of food poisoning.
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Find out more on effects of food contamination.