CONSUMPTION RISK ASSESSMENT OF PESTICIDES RESIDUES IN YAM

Abstract

Chemical pesticides have contributed significantly to agriculture production throughout the world. However, human exposure to pesticides remains a critical concern. One important source of human exposure to pesticides is through food consumption. The potential negative effects of pesticides have resulted in stringent regulation in the production and use of the products, especially in the developed countries. To limit the potential negatives effects of pesticides, risk assessments are usually conducted by scientific experts to establish the risk levels and to offer risk management strategies. Yam is a food commodity widely consumed by Africans both home and by the diaspora. Yam farmers have been using pesticides in yam production over years. The public is concerned about the health impacts that may result from exposure to residues. This study was designed to assess the risk of dietary intake of 12 pesticides, including five insecticides (cadusafos, fenitrothion, imidacloprid, profenofos and propoxur), four fungicides (carbendazim, fenpropimorph, metalaxyl, propiconazole) and three herbicides (bentazone, glyphosate and pendimethalin) in yam cropped by farmers in the Nanumba traditional area of Ghana. Residue and consumption data were collected and combined to derive Estimated Daily Intake (EDI). Three approaches were adopted in the calculation of EDI (deterministic, simple distribution and probabilistic) and the EDI values were compared with Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) values. The study revealed that farmers’ EDI to the twelve pesticides, according to the deterministic and the simple distribution approaches were lower than their respective ADI set by the EU Commission. However, the EDI of about 10% of the farmers to fenpropimorph and fenitrothion were higher than their ADI.