Insecticide contamination of the Jamaican environment

Bioaccumulation and Tissue Partitioning of Endosulfan by the Red Hybrid <i>Tilapia</i>

“…Residues of endosulfan in Jamaican rivers and coastal waters usually ranged between 0.001 and 33.0 µg L −1 (Mansingh et al, 1997) but may have been much higher after post-spraying rains in coffee plantations. The t 1/2 value of the residues of 87-548 days in river and coastal waters (Robinson et al, 1997) would ensure the persistence of undesirable contaminants in the environment for a relatively prolonged period.…”

“…The risk of such contamination may be even greater in small Caribbean states where agricultural activity on steep slopes, the intensity and pattern of rainfall, unsuitable agronomic practices and the close proximity of stream and rivers to agricultural activity often favour the run-off of pesticide residues to rivers and streams (Mansingh et al, 2003). Mansingh et al (1997;2003) has reported extensively on the contamination of Jamaican and coastal waters by pesticides. Up until recently, endosulfan was used extensively against the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari, in the Blue Mountain and highlands of Jamaica where most rivers originate and it is therefore not surprising that its residues were detected in many wells and springs, rivers, coastal waters and aquatic fauna in Jamaica (Robinson and Mansingh, 1999;Witter et al, 1999).…”

CPEST: An expert system for the management of pests and diseases in the Jamaican coffee industry

“…It has become clear that past agricultural practices and policies are at least partially responsible for many of the current environmental problems, such as the ones related to soil and water. For example, many countries have reported alarming levels of pesticide residues in their eco-systems (Dierksmeier, 1996;Hill & Wright, 1978;Mansingh, Robinson, & Dalip, 1997;Mansingh, Robinson, & Dalip, 2003;Robinson, Henry, & Mansingh, 2002). The problems are partly caused by what Mansingh (1993) has referred to as the ''pesticide subculture''.…”

“…This requires the use of quality management approaches to address these threats. However, such approaches have to involve the judicious use of pest management chemicals because Jamaican coffee is typically grown on steep sloping lands, and so there a great danger of run-off of environmentally damaging chemicals into various river systems (Mansingh et al, 1997;Robinson et al, 2002).…”

Toxicity of Endosulfan to the Red Hybrid Tilapia

“…Pesticide residues have contaminated several Jamaican rivers, which drain the agricultural valleys and coastal waters (Mansingh, 1993;Mansingh et al, 1997;2003). Residues of endosulfan (which was used extensively against the Coffee Berry Borer, Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari, in the Blue Mountains and highlands up until 2011) were detected in many wells and springs and in almost all the rivers, coastal waters and aquatic fauna in Jamaica during the 1990s Witter et al, 1999).…”