Agrochemicals and the Ghanaian Environment, a Review

Fianko, Joseph Richmond; Donkor, Augustine; Lowor, S. T.; Yeboah, Philip O.

doi:10.4236/jep.2011.23026

Cited by 65 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The average awareness score of farmers interviewed was 58% indicating that maize farmers in the study area are moderately aware of agrochemical usage and its health implications. The study confirmed the findings of Fianko et al [22] that there is considerable evidence that farmers have overused agrochemicals especially pesticides. It is also consistent with Omari [4] findings that farmers have a low level of awareness of the hazards associated with the use of agrochemicals.…”

Section: Level Of Awareness Of Health Implications Of Agrochemicalsupporting

confidence: 81%

Awareness of Health Implications of Agrochemical Use: Effects on Maize Production in Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality, Ghana

Mabe¹,

Talabi²,

Danso-Abbeam³

2017

Advances in Agriculture

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This study assessed factors that affect awareness of health implications of agrochemical use and its effects on maize production in Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality of Ashanti Region, Ghana. One hundred and fifty-four (154) maize farmers were randomly sampled from the municipality. The study used awareness indicators to estimate an index representing farmers' awareness levels of health implications of agrochemical use. An ordered logit compliment with multivariate linear regression model was used to identify the drivers of farmers' awareness level of health implications of agrochemical use. Also, a multivariate linear regression model was used to analyze the effects of health implications of agrochemical use on maize output. On average, the respondents have the moderate awareness level of health implications of agrochemical use (0.578). The awareness level was significantly explained by education, the number of children in school, ownership of TV/radio, experience in agrochemicals use, and farm size. The multivariate linear regression results showed that awareness levels of health implications of agrochemical use increase maize output. It is therefore recommended that interventions aimed at increasing farmers' awareness levels of health implications of agrochemicals use should focus on educating farmers through interactive radio discussion and training sessions on the field and incorporate safety use of agrochemical in our educational curriculum.

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Section: Level Of Awareness Of Health Implications Of Agrochemicalsupporting

confidence: 81%

Awareness of Health Implications of Agrochemical Use: Effects on Maize Production in Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality, Ghana

Mabe¹,

Talabi²,

Danso-Abbeam³

2017

Advances in Agriculture

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“…A similar study conducted by Kihampa et al (2010) in Tanzania, to assess the level of organochlorine insecticide residues in soil from tomato fields, revealed that DDT metabolites 4,4-DDD and 4,4-DDE were detected in 53 % of the soil samples analysed. A systematic review of studies done in Ghana, a neighbouring country of Togo, to give an integrated picture of agrochemicals, especially exposure of humans, animals, plants, water, soil, sediment and atmosphere, revealed contamination of the Ghanaian environment (Fianko et al 2011). Numerous studies have reported the persistence of organochlorine insecticides in soil and water of cultivated land worldwide (Dem et al 2007;Jamal 2011).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Insecticide residues in soil and water in coastal areas of vegetable production in Togo

Mawussi

Júnior

Dossa³

et al. 2014

Environ Monit Assess

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Some common organochlorine, organophosphorus and pyrethroid insecticides were analysed in agricultural soil samples (n = 35) and surface water and groundwater samples (n = 25) collected from coastal areas of vegetable production in Togo. Analytical methods included solvent extraction of the insecticide residues and their subsequent quantification using GC-ECD. δ-HCH, heptachlor epoxide, 4,4-DDE, endosulphan (α, β and sulphate), lambda-cyalothrin and chlorpyrifos were found in the soil samples with concentrations that varied from non-detectable (ND) to 26.93 μg kg(-1) dry weight. For water samples, heptachlor epoxide, 2,4-DDD, 4,4-DDD, 4,4-DDE and endosulphan (α, β, and sulphate) were found at contamination levels that varied from ND to 0.116 μg L(-1). The concentration of insecticide residues detected in the water samples was below the limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and also by the European Union (EU), with the exception of the concentration of endosulphan sulphate at the Aného site, which was 0.116 μg L(-1).

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“…As a result the application of synthetic pesticides have been a measure to control pests and diseases in order to increase yields (Dankyi et al 2014). However, regular and repeated application of pesticides on cocoa trees throughout cocoa seasons, coupled with the indiscriminate use and inappropriate handling of the chemicals by farmers has often been associated with unintended environmental and human health consequences (Fianko et al 2011;Dankyi et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Contamination of the natural environment with pesticides especially organochlorine have been a major concern to researchers because of their toxicity and threat to human, soil, water, animal and plant health (Afful et al 2010;Fianko et al 2011). Pesticides reaching the soil after spraying may affect soil quality by disturbing some soil organisms such as earthworms, microbes and natural enemies which acts as decomposers (Ntiamoah and Afrane 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organophosphorus pesticide residues in soils and drinking water sources from cocoa producing areas in Ghana

et al. 2016

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Background: Pests and diseases are recognised as major factors responsible for the decline in cocoa yield in Ghana. This has resulted in an increased use of pesticides to increase productivity. The regular application and indiscriminate use of chemicals have been associated with unintended environmental and human health consequence. The objective of this study was to determine levels of 13 organophosphorus pesticide residues in soils and drinking water sources in and around cocoa farms in Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. Methods:Organophosphorus pesticide residues were determined by the use of a high resolution Varian CP-3800 Gas Chromatograph equipped with pulse flame photometric detector (PFPD) in 32 soils and 64 drinking water samples from 16 cocoa farms in the Dormaa West District of Ghana.Results: Four organophosphorus residues were detected in the soil and water samples at varying concentrations. The organophosphorus residues detected in soil samples were chlorpyrifos (0.01-0.04 mg/kg), profenofos (0.02-0.04 mg/kg) and pirimiphos-methyl (0.01-0.04 mg/kg) while the organophosphorus residues recorded in the water samples were chlorpyrifos (0.01-0.05 µg/L), diazinon (0.01-0.04 µg/L) and pirimiphos-methyl (0.01-0.03 µg/L). The concentrations of organophosphorus pesticide residues in the soil samples analysed from the various sites were generally below and within US MRLs for agricultural soils. However, mean concentrations of chlorpyrifos and pirimiphos-methyl recorded at Nkrankwanta (S1) were found to be above their respective US MRLs for agricultural soils. The trends of organophosphorus pesticide residues in the water samples analysed from the various distances to cocoa farms decreased with increase in distance to cocoa farm (ranking; 0-15 > 16-30 > above 30 m). All organophosphorus pesticide residues recorded in the water samples from the various sites within the various distances were below and within their respective WHO MRLs for drinking water except chlorpyrifos at Diabaa (S2) and Kwakuanya (S4) at distance 16-30 m and diazinon at Kwakuanya (S4) at a distance 0-15 m which exceeded their WHO MRLs. There were no significant (p > 0.05) sites differences in mean values of pesticide residues detected in soils and water samples. Conclusions:The presence of organophosphorus in the samples analysed was an indication of the use of the pesticides by cocoa farmers in the study area to control pest and diseases. The pesticide residues in the soil poses danger to soil organisms as well as contaminate surrounding water bodies through runoff and leaching. In addition, there is the likelihood of translocation of these residues from the soil into the cocoa beans and other crops (like vegetables that are commonly intercropped with cocoa) through the root system, thereby posing health risks to consumers. Chlorpyrifos and diazinon concentrations in drinking water exceeded their respective WHO MRLs at some sampled sites and may pose health hazard to farmers' household and the communities.

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Agrochemicals and the Ghanaian Environment, a Review

Abstract: ABSTRACT

Cited by 65 publications

References 21 publications

Awareness of Health Implications of Agrochemical Use: Effects on Maize Production in Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality, Ghana

Awareness of Health Implications of Agrochemical Use: Effects on Maize Production in Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality, Ghana

Insecticide residues in soil and water in coastal areas of vegetable production in Togo

Organophosphorus pesticide residues in soils and drinking water sources from cocoa producing areas in Ghana

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