Pathologist warns of galamsey’s harmful impact on child development and reproductive health
Prof. Dr. Paul Osei Sampene, a pathologist and researcher at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has raised concerns over the detrimental effects of illegal mining, or galamsey, on child development and reproductive health.
The pathologist cautioned that galamsey activities could lead to birth deformities by adversely affecting both maternal and paternal reproductive systems.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Point of View, Prof. Dr. Sampene explained that the heavy metals released from galamsey operations enter the human body through contaminated food, water, and air.
These pollutants can accumulate and disrupt the reproductive systems, particularly affecting a mother’s ovaries or a father’s semen, which can impact the development of a foetus.
He further elaborated that pollutants absorbed into the body can be transmitted to the placenta, increasing the risk of deformities in newborns.
Prof. Dr. Sampene stressed the urgency of addressing the harmful effects of galamsey to protect future generations from such health risks.
