University of Cape Coast study reveals how oranges, eggs and fish could shield street vendors from Accra's toxic air

Street vendors across Accra's busiest thoroughfares face a daily health battle most Ghanaians never witness. From Atomic Junction to Kwame Nkrumah Circle, thousands of hawkers, traffic officers and market traders inhale exhaust fumes and industrial pollutants for hours on end—a trade-off most make simply to earn a living. Now, groundbreaking research from the University of Cape Coast offers a practical intervention: the foods they eat could significantly protect their bodies from the damage caused by this toxic exposure.

The Dietary Intervention to Mitigate Air Pollution health effects among street hawkers and vendors in Accra (DIMAP) study, led by Professor Kofi Amegah, tracked 307 street vendors for a full year. One group received weekly supplies of antioxidant-rich foods—oranges, peanuts, sunflower oil, eggs and sardines—while a control group maintained their normal diets. The results were striking: vendors who consumed these foods regularly were 92 percent less likely to develop irregular heartbeats, 81 percent less likely to experience dizziness, and 60 percent less likely to suffer breathing difficulties.

The pollution crisis facing outdoor workers

Accra's air quality has become increasingly concerning. Monitors deployed across the study routes recorded average PM2.5 levels of approximately 40 micrograms per cubic metre—nearly three times the World Health Organization's recommended maximum of 15 micrograms per cubic metre. PM2.5 particles are impossibly small, penetrating deep into the lungs and sometimes entering the bloodstream directly. Prolonged exposure is linked to heart disease, stroke, lung disease and other serious conditions.

For street vendors, avoiding this pollution simply is not an option. Their income depends on their presence along Ghana's congested roads, where vehicle emissions, open burning and industrial activities combine to create what Prof. Amegah describes as a "dangerous cocktail of pollutants."

Why this matters for Ghana

This research carries immediate relevance for Ghana's estimated hundreds of thousands of outdoor workers. The study demonstrates that simple, accessible dietary changes—eating more oranges, vegetables, nuts, eggs and fish—can measurably reduce the health burden these workers face daily. Vendors who received the food intervention were also 66 percent less likely to require hospitalisation for pollution-related symptoms, a significant finding in a context where many street workers lack access to adequate healthcare.

However, Prof. Amegah emphasises a critical limitation: better nutrition cannot substitute for proper air quality regulation. Ghana's air pollution stems from multiple sources—vehicle emissions, household cooking fuels, open burning and industrial discharge—all requiring government-level intervention. The research suggests a two-pronged approach is essential: personal protection measures including masks and better diet, combined with stronger government action on air quality standards and enforcement.

The path forward

The findings align with established nutritional science. Antioxidants found in oranges (vitamin C), eggs and peanuts (vitamin E) and fish (omega-3 fatty acids) help the body neutralise free radicals—harmful molecules produced when pollution enters the body. Prof. Amegah recommends that outdoor workers increase their intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts, cooking oils and fatty fish.

Yet the broader challenge remains with policymakers. Ghana's municipal, metropolitan and district assemblies must receive stronger support and resources to enforce air quality regulations, reduce industrial emissions and manage vehicle pollution. Without such systemic change, even optimised diets can only provide limited protection to the thousands of Ghanaians working in polluted environments.

For street vendors already juggling precarious livelihoods, this research offers hope—but it also underscores a pressing demand: Ghana's government must act decisively to clean the air its workers breathe.