Residual Heavy Metals, Pesticides and Their Implications on Human Health Outcomes in Cabbage Production within the Ga-East Municipality, Accra.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Inadequate consumption of vegetables as well as fruits have been linked to an increase in the global incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The quest for healthy living has thus seen many Ghanaians increasingly including vegetables in their diet. One of the in-demand vegetables, both locally and internationally, is cabbage. A significant threat that can reduce the benefits accrued from cabbage is contamination in the form of either heavy metals, pesticides or microbes. In order to meet the increasing demand for cabbage, farmers have to use pesticides to protect crops from pest attacks. Some of these applications are unregulated thus resulting in higher-than-normal concentrations of these chemicals on the vegetables. Unsuspecting populations get exposed to these chemicals and may suffer adverse health effects. Urbanization, modernization and industrialization have also increased the presence of heavy metals in our environment. Most vegetable farms in peri urban areas are increasingly being exposed to heavy metal contamination due to the above stated phenomena. Heavy metals are also known to have adverse health effects on the population. Thus, there is the need to monitor cabbage farms within peri-urban settlements with the likelihood of being exposed to high levels of pesticides and heavy metals so as to safeguard public health. AIM: To assess heavy metals and pesticide residues, pesticide usage patterns and their implications on human health outcomes in cabbage production within Ga-East Municipality. METHOD: A questionnaire was used to collect demographic and knowledge on pesticides from the farmers. Standard sampling techniques was used to sample soil, water and cabbage from the farms. All samples were analyzed for their heavy metals content using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) and pesticide content by Liquid Chromatography coupled with a Mass Spectrometer (LC/MS). OUTCOME: Majority (80%) of the respondents indicated that they use recommended doses during pesticides application. With respect to pesticides application routine, 40% of the farmers indicated they applied pesticides at an interval less than a week. The major disposal method for pesticide packages was by burning (52%) whiles 47% of them observed a pre-harvest interval of 1-3 days. Colleague farmers were the major source of knowledge on safe handling and application of pesticides within the respondents (55%). All detected heavy metals and pesticides had concentrations below recommended ADI/MRLs set by FAO/WHO. CONCLUSION: The estimated hazard quotient indicated no likelihood of adverse health effects to consumers of cabbage from the Ga – East Municipality over the study period.