A study conducted by Ashland University’s’ Chemistry department has found unsafe levels of lead in cookware from Cameroon, Africa. 

Professor Jeff Weidenhamer along with Professor Rebecca Corbin and Undergraduate student Peter Kobunski completed the study that was published in the August issue of the journal, “Science of the Total Environment”. 

Occupational Knowledge International (OK International), which is a non-profit organization focusing on public health, was in partnership with the professor’s for this study.

“The folks at [OK International] were working with people in Cameroon who were worried about the cookware that they had,” said Weidenhamer, “and [Ok International] was wondering if that could be a problem for the people there. We arranged to get some cookware from Cameroon and then those were tested here in our lab.”

The testing revealed that samples had 200 times more lead than what is considered safe for a child in the United States. 

The pots are made from scrap metal such as old car parts and computer parts, which local artisans craft. 

Most of the pot is made with safer aluminum, but other metals that are used contribute to their lead content. 

The effects of lead on the human body can be detrimental such as reducing IQ, causing learning and attention problems in children and other more serious effects. 

“If a child’s IQ is reduced early in life due to lead exposer,” said Weidenhamer, “than it is going to stay with them through their lifetime. In this case with these pots, the lead could be poisoning not just children, but entire families in the entire country. This cookware is used widely in the developing world.”

Senior and biochemistry major Peter Kobunski co-authored the article about the pots. 

“For an undergraduate to have a chance to be involved in that is a great opportunity for them,” said Weidenhamer. 

“Then for them to present or co-author papers is really a wonderful opportunity for them. It’s a huge plus for a student wanting to go to grad school or medical school.”

In the past 15 years there has been a growth in the number of students doing undergraduate research at Ashland. The science department regularly has student’s present papers at not just URCA, but at national meetings.

“It’s one of the benefits of coming to a place like Ashland,” said Weidenhamer.