Levels of organochlorine pesticides residue in cabbage cultivated in farms along River Oyansia, Accra-Ghana

摘要

Abuse of agrochemicals in agriculture has been of great human and environmental health concern over the years. However, the activities of pests and diseases render vegetable crops unattractive, causing general decrease in productivity and hence loss to farmers in Ghana. To protect their investments, vegetable farmers along the Oyansia River in Accra, apparently with inadequate knowledge of the human and environmental dangers posed by improper handling and general abuse of pesticides have resorted to the use of organochlorine pesticides. This study investigated, using the gas chromatography, the residue levels of organochlorine in cabbage, soil, irrigation water and waterbed sediments of the Oyansia stream passing through Dzorwulu and Opeibea in Accra, Ghana. Results showed the use of organochlorine pesticides including those banned in Ghana. With the exception of P,P-DDT that occurred at concentration less than the WHO guideline value in upstream soil, concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in cabbage, soil and water sediment were generally higher than the FAO/WHO guideline values. All pesticide components occurred at higher concentrations in cabbage, soil and water sediments at downstream than upstream and were generally statistically significant (p < 0.001).