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Abstract
This research studied the levels and human health risk assessment of pesticide residues in consumable vegetables such as watermelon, cucumber and onions commonly sold in Benin City markets. A total of twenty-five organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues in these samples were analyzed using with gas chromatography- electron captured detector (ECD).The estimated acceptable daily intake (EADI) of gamma lindane concentration in fruit vegetable (watermelon, onions and cucumber) was determined based on European union (EU) and United States Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) standards, using two population age groups (child and adult). The results revealed the levels of organochlorine pesticide residues among the fruit vegetables (watermelon, onions and cucumber). Gamma lindane had the highest value of 0.0002mg/kg among the OCP residues detected in fruit vegetable (watermelon). Onions and cucumber were below detection limit (0.00±0.00). The study, thus suggest that OCPs concentration (gamma lindane) in watermelon is unsafe for human. The study therefore calls for continuous monitoring of agricultural farmlands because continuous exposure to pesticide contaminated food products sold in Benin City markets (watermelon) could affect the health of consumers.Keywords: Pesticide residues, watermelon, cucumber, onions
Highlights
Pesticides are chemical substances widely used in agriculture to increase the yield, improve the quality, and extend the storage life of food crops(Chapman, 2002).They provide society with a wide range of benefits, especially in agricultural productivity and in the control of diseases
The results have continually revealed contamination by organochlorine pesticides in agricultural produce sold in Benin City markets ()
The procedure employed in this study is reproducible, efficient and reliable for the analysis of organochlorine pesticide (OCP) as stipulated by European union (EU) guidelines for evaluating accuracy and precision method (European Union, 2005)
Summary
Pesticides are chemical substances widely used in agriculture to increase the yield, improve the quality, and extend the storage life of food crops(Chapman, 2002).They provide society with a wide range of benefits, especially in agricultural productivity and in the control of diseases. Xenobiotics are a major cause for concern all over the world, given their persistence to their metabolite residues after degradation by artificial or natural means and adverse effects on humans (Chapman, 2002).In 2001, about 74 percent of agricultural products (fruit, vegetables) in the United States of America (USA) were reported to contain atleast one pesticide residue greater than the acceptable level Adeyemi et al, (2011) This increase in level of pesticide residues has risen in developing countries and the fastest growing markets in Africa, Asia, South and Central America, Eastern Mediterranean Adeyemi et al, (2011). The aim of this study were to assess the level of organochlorine pesticide residues in ready to eat vegetables (onions, cucumber and watermelon) sold in markets in Benin City
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