Pesticide contamination of produce and medicinal plants in Suriname: An emerging environmental health threat

Abstract

Background: Pesticides are used widely in Suriname, an upper middle-income country, in large and small-scale agriculture and family gardens. The levels of imported pesticides in 2013 include 73,144.77 kg of insecticides, 447390.80 kg of fungicides and 277,234.00 kg of herbicides. While import is regulated, no policies exist regarding distribution and sale. National monitoring of pesticide residues in produce is absent; however, data from the Netherlands (2011-2013) on imported produce from Suriname show that approximately 20% of samples confirmed pesticide residues above the European Union Maximum Residue Limits. The Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health is designed to address high-priority environmental and occupational health risks in Suriname. Among the consortium’s key studies is examining the public health implications of agricultural pesticides use. Methods: The study is being conducted in three phases. Phases 1 and 2 entail the environmental characterization; pesticide residue analysis of mostly consumed crops and medicinal plants cultivated or harvested in Suriname in the 2 main seasons. Phase 1 consists of a preliminary characterization; analysis of the biota collected in the rainy season from the largest fresh market of Suriname, district Paramaribo. In Phase 2 the environmental characterization is expanded with spatial sampling in the dry season and with an additional pesticide test panel. Sampling is conducted at the largest fresh market of district Paramaribo as well as district Wanica; the 2 most densely populated districts. Additionally, the most popular produce item Tannia is sampled at 3 other fresh markets in district Paramaribo. Phase 3 focuses on human health assessment including a comprehensive dietary assessment to conduct a risk factor analysis and biomarker testing to ascertain organ system function impact. Findings: In Phase 1, 32 insecticides (e.g. lambdacyhalotrin) and 12 fungicides (e.g. carbendazim) were tested on 7 crops (tannia, cabbage, long beans, peppers, rice, sweet potatoes, and banana) and 1 medicinal plant (Phyllanthus amarus). Tannia had levels of Endosulfan that exceeds the MRLs of the EU. Endosulfan is an insecticide that is prohibited in Suriname and is being phased out globally. Phase 1 results are only based on collection of crops from 1 fresh market in only 1 season. Also, the Surinamese population consumes not solely locally cultivated crops. However, this study is the first to characterize pesticide contaminated produce and to conduct the future human health assessment. Interpretation: The results indicate that pesticide residue levels may pose a threat to human health. Produce samples are currently being analyzed using an expanded pesticide panel including other organophosphates, herbicides and fungicides. The findings will be available and will be presented at the upcoming conference. Funding: Funding is provided by the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health. Abstract #: 02SEDH001