Chorkor Fishmongers Breathe Harmful Smoke Daily

Thousands of fishmongers in Chorkor, Ghana, face daily exposure to toxic smoke from their traditional fish smoking methods. This practice, essential for their livelihoods and a trade passed down through generations, exposes them to serious health risks and environmental damage.

The smoke irritates eyes, causes respiratory discomfort, and can lead to long-term health problems. For many women, like 27-year-old Doris Mensah, fish smoking is their family's sole source of income. Her family has been in the trade for generations. Doris explains that the smoke causes eye irritation and sleepless nights. Her grandmother, Mantee, also suffers from red, watery eyes due to constant exposure. Doctors have confirmed that smoke inhalation affects their eyes.

This situation highlights a critical intersection of economic survival and public health in Ghana. The traditional fish smoking methods, while economically vital, are unsustainable. The smoke contains fine particulate matter and toxic compounds. These are linked to serious health conditions, including cancer. In Chorkor, this exposure is not a one-time event but a continuous reality. A paediatrician from Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Richard Bright Danyoh, stated that fish smoking is equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes daily. This significantly harms adults and even more so children. He warned that the health implications extend beyond visible symptoms. Dr Danyoh noted potential links to pregnancy complications and low birth weight babies.

The environmental cost is also substantial. Large quantities of firewood are consumed daily to fuel the smoking ovens. This fuels deforestation and worsens air pollution. Professor Ebenezer Forkuo Amankwaa from the University of Ghana explained that the emitted pollutants affect the ozone layer. This contributes to global warming, ice melt, and extreme weather events like sea level rise and flooding. The smoke's impact is not confined to local areas; it has global consequences.

Despite understanding the health and environmental risks, the fishmongers continue using firewood. They cite its necessity for achieving the specific taste and colour customers expect. This creates a difficult choice between a dependable livelihood and protection from harmful exposures. This urgent issue requires immediate attention from policymakers and public health officials.