Human Risk Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Vegetables from Kumasi, Ghana

The use of organochlorine pesticides has been banned worldwide due to their toxicities. However, some farmers use them illegally because of their potency. The aim of this study was to assess the level of organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues and the potential health risk associated with vegetables...

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Main Authors: Vincent Kwadwo Bolor, Nathaniel Owusu Boadi, Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye, Samuel Afful
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Journal of Chemistry
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3269065
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author Vincent Kwadwo Bolor
Nathaniel Owusu Boadi
Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye
Samuel Afful
author_facet Vincent Kwadwo Bolor
Nathaniel Owusu Boadi
Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye
Samuel Afful
author_sort Vincent Kwadwo Bolor
collection DOAJ
description The use of organochlorine pesticides has been banned worldwide due to their toxicities. However, some farmers use them illegally because of their potency. The aim of this study was to assess the level of organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues and the potential health risk associated with vegetables, soil, and groundwater obtained from farms in Ayigya, Nsenie, Gyenyase, and Kentinkrono in Kumasi, Ghana. A total of 15 samples were analyzed using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. The highest mean concentration of 184.10 ± 12.11 µg/kg was recorded for methoxychlor in cabbage from Ayigya. Beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) recorded the lowest mean concentration of 0.20 ± 0.00 µg/kg in cabbage from Ayigya. The combined risk index showed significant health risk to children than adults. The soil samples mainly contained methoxychlor followed by dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), aldrin, and other OCPs. Concentrations of total HCHs, total DDTs, and total OCPs in the soil samples ranged from <0.01 to 49.00, <0.01 to 165.81, and <0.01 to 174.91 µg/kg, respectively. Among all HCH and DDT isomers, only β-HCH and p,p′-DDT were detected in some of the water samples. Carcinogenic risk values for β-HCH, aldrin, and p,p′ DDT in the groundwater were found to be >10−6, posing a potentially serious cancer risk to consumers. Moreover, the hazard quotients (HQs) of aldrin exceeded the threshold value of one, indicating that daily exposure is a potential concern.
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spelling doaj-art-6e6bb818c61443f1ac01e1d8c7a3606c2025-08-20T03:33:54ZengWileyJournal of Chemistry2090-90632090-90712018-01-01201810.1155/2018/32690653269065Human Risk Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Vegetables from Kumasi, GhanaVincent Kwadwo Bolor0Nathaniel Owusu Boadi1Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye2Samuel Afful3Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaNuclear Chemistry and Environmental Research Centre, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Accra, GhanaThe use of organochlorine pesticides has been banned worldwide due to their toxicities. However, some farmers use them illegally because of their potency. The aim of this study was to assess the level of organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues and the potential health risk associated with vegetables, soil, and groundwater obtained from farms in Ayigya, Nsenie, Gyenyase, and Kentinkrono in Kumasi, Ghana. A total of 15 samples were analyzed using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. The highest mean concentration of 184.10 ± 12.11 µg/kg was recorded for methoxychlor in cabbage from Ayigya. Beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) recorded the lowest mean concentration of 0.20 ± 0.00 µg/kg in cabbage from Ayigya. The combined risk index showed significant health risk to children than adults. The soil samples mainly contained methoxychlor followed by dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), aldrin, and other OCPs. Concentrations of total HCHs, total DDTs, and total OCPs in the soil samples ranged from <0.01 to 49.00, <0.01 to 165.81, and <0.01 to 174.91 µg/kg, respectively. Among all HCH and DDT isomers, only β-HCH and p,p′-DDT were detected in some of the water samples. Carcinogenic risk values for β-HCH, aldrin, and p,p′ DDT in the groundwater were found to be >10−6, posing a potentially serious cancer risk to consumers. Moreover, the hazard quotients (HQs) of aldrin exceeded the threshold value of one, indicating that daily exposure is a potential concern.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3269065
spellingShingle Vincent Kwadwo Bolor
Nathaniel Owusu Boadi
Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye
Samuel Afful
Human Risk Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Vegetables from Kumasi, Ghana
Journal of Chemistry
title Human Risk Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Vegetables from Kumasi, Ghana
title_full Human Risk Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Vegetables from Kumasi, Ghana
title_fullStr Human Risk Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Vegetables from Kumasi, Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Human Risk Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Vegetables from Kumasi, Ghana
title_short Human Risk Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Vegetables from Kumasi, Ghana
title_sort human risk assessment of organochlorine pesticide residues in vegetables from kumasi ghana
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3269065
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