A study carried out by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) scientists has revealed that consumers of street vended fufu and fried rice may be suffering from ailments caused by the presence of camphor in their foods.

The research found dangerous levels of camphor in these foods.

The lead scientist, Dr Gloria Mathanda Ankar-Brewoo of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition said, “naphthalene is also one of the highest poly aromatise that we find in street vended foods.

"Although it’s hydrophobic and doesn’t dissolve easily. It has a lower resolution read, which slowly dissolves after some time."

She recommends a review of policies that govern the use of naphthalene balls in food preparation processes and will also be very helpful if naphthalene balls are taken out of the water and used as pest repellent instead.

According to her, “naphthalene balls affects our eyes, it also makes us get cataracts and as well causes blindness."

Dr Gloria Mathanda Ankar-Brewoo has revealed that naphthalene balls, otherwise known as camphor, causes cataracts.

Naphthalene balls are noted as a great anti-bacterial agent usually placed in water with a mindset of purifying or preserving the water for a longer period of time.

But do you know its usage?

Camphor is used in our homes to ward off insects and keep homes fresh.

Do you also know that at certain levels of exposure, it can cause diseases such as cataracts?