Dietary Exposure to Pesticide Contaminated Vegetables Grown in the Yilo Krobo District of Ghana

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2015-02-09
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A total of 30 farmers within the Yilo Krobo District were interviewed using questionnaire to obtain their personal details and the types of pesticides they use. Pesticide residues in vegetables from three farming communities within the District (NKurakan, Huhuhnya, and Apkamu) were analyzed using gas chromatography. Twenty-five (25) pesticide residues which were made up of 13 organophosphates, 8 organochlorine and 4 pyrethroids were measured in all the vegetables (okra, pepper and cabbage) analyzed. The results from the questionnaire administered indicated that most farmers use organophosphates pesticides. Orgonophosphates and pyrethroid pesticide residues were detected in 80% of the vegetables. Phorate was found in 60%, 40%, and 30% of cabbage, okro and pepper samples respectively, whiles chlorpyrifos was found in 80%, 70%, and 50% of cabbage, okro and pepper samples. Fenvalerate was detected in 3 (30%) of the pepper samples from Akpamu. Permethrin was detected in 40% of the cabbage samples from Nkurakan whiles deltamethrin was detected in 60% of the cabbage samples from Akpamu. Hazards indices of chlorpyrifos residues detected in okra revealed that life time consumption of okra from the district could pose health risk to consumers.
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A Thesis Submitted to the School Of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science And Technology In Partial Fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Science (Msc.) Degree in Environmental Science,
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