Organochlorine Pesticide Residues In Soil Samples From The Nanumba North Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the levels of pesticide residues in soil samples from the Nanumba-North Municipality in the Northern region of Ghana using gas chromatography equipped with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Ten (10) soil samples from the Nanumba-North Municipality in the Northern Region of Ghana were collected and analyzed.

Ten (10) pesticide residues were detected in the soil samples at varying mean concentrations. Pesticide residues detected in the soil samples of some selected farms in the Nanumba-North Municipality, were beta-endosulfan, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD, p,p′-DDT, dieldrin, aldrin, beta-BHC, methoxychlor, heptachlor, and heptachlor-epoxide. The study revealed the presence of most of the selected pesticides at varying concentrations, with Beta-endosulfan recording significant concentrations in soil samples.

The mean concentrations of pesticide residues in the soil samples analyzed from the study site were generally below WHO (2017 MRLs) for agricultural soils except for beta-endosulfan, with a range of 0.030-0.041 mg/kg, which was comparable and above WHO (2017 MRLs) for agricultural soils, respectively. Pesticide residues detected showed significant differences at p < 0.05.

Wholistically, the presence of pesticide residues in the samples analyzed was an indication of the use of pesticides by farmers in the study area to control pests and diseases.