Browsing by Author "Nabuuma, Josephine"

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    A two-decade review of human exposure to legacy and emerging organic pollutants in Sub-Saharan Africa: Current status, exposure pathways, challenges and recommendations
    (Elsevier, 2026-06) Ssebugere, Patrick; Miiro, Ashirafu; Odongo, Silver; Muhwezi, Godfrey; Nabuuma, Josephine; Abayi, Juma John Moses; Matovu, Henry
    Rapid urbanization, industrialization, and continued pesticide use have intensified human exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). POPs are highly stable, bioaccumulative, and toxic, posing chronic reproductive, endocrine, and developmental risks. This review synthesized studies (2005–2025) that assessed legacy and emerging POPs—including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—in human fluids and tissues across SSA. Blood and serum (⁓48%) and breast milk (⁓38%) were the most analyzed matrices, followed by urine, placenta, and cord blood (<10%). Total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (∑DDT) in milk samples from South African mothers were in the range of 9500–140,000 ng/g lw—the highest globally—linked to malaria vector control. Mean total PCBs reached 160 ng/g lw in Ghanaian and Nigerian mothers, while ∑PBDEs were up to 786 ng/g lw in exposed Tanzanian populations. Dioxin toxic equivalents in Ghanaian serum (4.2 pg WHO 2005-TEQ/g lw) and South African milk (1.6–9.1 pg TEQ/g lw) were within global mid-range values. PFAS levels in South African and Ethiopian serum (0.6–2.5 ng/mL) confirmed emerging fluorinated exposure. Although health risk assessments were limited, some exceeded FAO/WHO thresholds, suggesting potential endocrine and developmental effects. Median POP levels in SSA populations were lower than the global averages but exhibited localized exceedances. Strengthened biomonitoring, harmonized QA/QC, and inclusion of short-chain PFAS, novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), and bisphenol analogues are essential to implement the Stockholm and Basel Conventions.