Abstract
There is no information available on pesticide residue levels in major food commodities harvested in Cameroon, especially from the western highlands region, the food basket of the country. Hence, this study evaluated the residues of 99 pesticides in 72 samples of 12 agricultural products collected in the region, using QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) method extraction, and analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD). This method was suitable for detecting the targeted compounds: For 81 pesticides by LC-MS/MS, the limit of quantification (LOQ) was between 0.0004 and 0.0537 mg/kg; and for 18 halogenated pesticides by GC-ECD, it ranged from 0.0012 to 0.2180 mg/kg. The residues of 62 pesticides, including 12 banned compounds, were found in the samples. Insecticides (39.7%) were the most prevalent group, with all the samples containing at least one pesticide. Twenty-one pesticides (34.4%) exceeded their European Union maximum residue limits (MRLs) and 22 pesticides (34.4%) were found in all 6 sampling locations. Malathion and p,p′-DDT were the most distributed pesticides, found in almost all the samples and sampling sites. Food items with the highest rates of positive results were chili pepper (23.2%), white pepper (20.2%), kidney beans (17.3%), and soybeans (17.2%). Samples with residues above their MRLs represented 38% of all the positive analyses; chili pepper (6.4%) and kidney beans (5.5%) were found to have the most residues above their MRLs. The most critical food commodities were kidney beans, soybeans, chili pepper, and maize. This data presents scientific evidence that investigation into continuous monitoring and good regulation of pesticide usage in Cameroon is needed, and paves the way for health risks analysis.
Highlights
To protect crops against pests and pathogens, over a thousand crop protection products from a broad range of classes are widely used worldwide in various combinations, at different stagesFoods 2018, 7, 184; doi:10.3390/foods7110184 www.mdpi.com/journal/foodsFoods 2018, 7, 184 of cultivation, and during postharvest storage
More recently it was found that 75% of maize, cowpea, and millet samples from northern Cameroon contained pesticide residues above the maximum residue limits (MRLs) [10], and high amounts of organophosphorous pesticide residues were found in stored cowpea and two by-products [5], revealing a potential human dietary risk related to consumption of these grains
We found that samples from all 6 locations and of all 12 food items were contaminated with one or more of the 63 pesticides quantified, among which 12 banned compounds were found
Summary
To protect crops against pests and pathogens, over a thousand crop protection products from a broad range of classes are widely used worldwide in various combinations, at different stagesFoods 2018, 7, 184; doi:10.3390/foods7110184 www.mdpi.com/journal/foodsFoods 2018, 7, 184 of cultivation, and during postharvest storage. Besides the unwanted side effects on the environment, direct toxicity to users, and development of resistance by pathogens and pests associated to the use of certain pesticides, pesticide residues that remain in the food supply could pose a risk for human health because of their potential sub-acute and chronic toxicity [1]. In developing countries like Cameroon, there is an increased concern in the dietary risk linked to increased use of crop protection products. More recently it was found that 75% of maize, cowpea, and millet samples from northern Cameroon contained pesticide residues above the maximum residue limits (MRLs) [10], and high amounts of organophosphorous pesticide residues were found in stored cowpea and two by-products [5], revealing a potential human dietary risk related to consumption of these grains
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