Abstract
Water and sediment samples were taken from selected irrigation dams located at Tono and Vea in the Upper East Region of Ghana and analyzed for organic pesticides using gas chromatography. Sixteen organic residues were identified of which thirteen had at least some trace concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 25.4 µg/L. It was found in the laboratory that the concentrations of DDT, BHC and heptachlor were above the upper limited recommended by WHO and the concentrations of DDT in both reservoirs were higher than 20 times the recommended limits. High concentrations of DDT were found in the water samples while the other two residues were identified in the sediments. The high DDT concentration in water was due to 1) the initial amount of DDT applied and the period in the reservoirs, 2) a half-life of 350 days suggested that much of the DDT originally used was not destroyed if applied less than this period, 3) its low solubility in water did not allow for dissolution and subsequent dispersal in water; 4) the indiscriminate uses of DDT for fishing as confirmed by the local people The high DDT level suggested that the water is not safe for many aquatic organisms and even humans. Generally the levels of these organic residues suggested that the dams have been polluted due to human activities such as farming and the unorthodox method of fishing. Therefore, steps should be taken to reduce the levels of DDT concentrations to preserve the aquatic life in the dams.
Highlights
Various attempts to increase yield in agriculture, horticulture or forestry have been a preoccupation of mankind to reduce poverty and eliminate hunger in the world at large and developing countries in particular
Water and sediment samples were taken from selected irrigation dams located at Tono and Vea in the Upper East Region of Ghana and analyzed for organic pesticides using gas chromatography
The high DDT concentration in water was due to 1) the initial amount of DDT applied and the period in the reservoirs, 2) a half-life of 350 days suggested that much of the DDT originally used was not destroyed if applied less than this period, 3) its low solubility in water did not allow for dissolution and subsequent dispersal in water; 4) the indiscriminate uses of DDT for fishing as confirmed by the local people The high DDT level suggested that the water is not safe for many aquatic organisms and even humans
Summary
Various attempts to increase yield in agriculture, horticulture or forestry have been a preoccupation of mankind to reduce poverty and eliminate hunger in the world at large and developing countries in particular. As a result of the ease in which these chemicals eliminate their prey, most crop scientists have adopted it as the saviour or the best way to reduce their burden on the search for more appropriate, reliable, fast and safer method of protection Uses of these pesticides have been extensive and indiscriminate creating problems in soil and water pollution. Since the introduction of these pesticides, farmers in Ghana and for that matter, the Upper East Region in one way or the other have participated in some of the indiscriminate uses of these hazardous chemicals in the environment either for the control of pests or in an attempt to improve the fertility of soils Another reason for indiscriminate application is an attempt to provide needed protein sources such as fish resulting in the use of these chemicals in some water bodies. If these chemicals were efficiently used, there would be minimal effect on the JEP
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