African consumers and citizens are growingly aware of the wide range of toxic poisoning scenarios from different products and hazards. Recurrent episodes on poisoning that have been reported in Africa include toxic hazards in consumers’ products ranging from food to herbal medicine, drugs, and cosmetics. Chemical poisoning remains an issue that is overlooked by public health stakeholders in Africa. Available information on toxicovigilance systems and practices in African countries is reviewed in terms of increasing development, organization and articulation levels. Less than nine out of 54 African countries have a legally recognized toxicovigilance system. Of these, the majority have created toxicovigilance systems recently, and are facing many challenges in developing them, at regional and country levels. Basic structures for a good toxicovigilance system include a phone line service (available 24/7), and hospital facilities. Pesticides emerge as the hazard recognized by all of the toxicovigilance systems, and may represent a prototypic toxicant towards a toxicovigilance system that is inclusive of a wider spectrum of toxicological hazards for the protection of community health. Toxicovigilance today is more reactive than preventive in Africa, but some milestones are present that constitute some promising seminal efforts.
Pesticides are use in agriculture for their capacity to reduce pest and protect foods. Since their introduction in Africa by colonial masters, the use of these chemicals is constantly growing. Herbicides and insecticides are the two dominant categories. Although they are used in small quantities by farmers who own small exploitation, the frequency of their use, as well as overuses and misuses, constitutes serious factors of exposure and health risks. Farm workers are more vulnerable to occupational effects from pesticide inhalation and skin contacts. Failure to wear protective equipment and observe good agricultural practices explained health symptoms that are frequently experienced: eye and skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, and headache. Population is subject to chronic health effects due to repeated dietary intake of pesticides. Most consumed staple foods on the continent (cereals, vegetables, and fruits) have been found to be contaminated by one or multiple residues of pesticides. The level of residues is often higher than regulatory limits. Organization of surveillance programs to monitor concentration of pesticide residues remains inexistent in most countries, same for toxicovigilance systems to documented poisoning cases. Current data underline the need to carry out pesticide health risk assessment in order to appreciate the threats they pose for public health.
In Sub-Saharan African countries, more than 60% of the active population is involved in agriculture. Synthetic pesticides and veterinary drugs are mainly imported from developed economies and are massively used and misused by the population. The level of environmental pollution by residues of these chemicals is considered to be a serious concern all over the continent. Populations and animals are at risk of exposure to highly polluted food and water. This chapter reviews the exposure levels to pesticides and veterinary drugs residues through selected highly consumed foods. Herbicides, insecticides and antibiotics are frequent residues found in foods; most foods items revealed contaminations by multiples chemicals. Levels of contamination are often higher than maximum residues limits set by the Codex Alimentarius or by the European Union. Preliminary estimations of consumers’ dietary exposure and health risk suggest a real public health concern from endocrine disrupting agrochemicals. Very few studies have been carried out so far on this concern and decision makers remain greatly unaware of the rising issue of health risks in Africa associated with exposure to hormonally active pesticides and veterinary drugs.
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