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Concentration evaluation and risk assessment of pesticide residues in selected vegetables sold in major markets of Port Harcourt South-South Nigeria

  • Daniel O. Omokpariola ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Patrick L. Omokpariola ORCID logo , Patrice A. C. Okoye ORCID logo , Victor U. Okechukwu ORCID logo , Joseph S. Akolawole ORCID logo and Ogochukwu Ifeagwu
Published/Copyright: March 1, 2023
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Physical Sciences Reviews
From the journal Physical Sciences Reviews Volume 9 Issue 3

Abstract

Concentration levels and health risk assessment of residues of organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides in four commonly vegetables (Cucumber, carrot, cabbage, and eggplant) collected from major markets of Port Harcourt city, South-south Nigeria were assessed. The collected samples were analysed using QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) extraction method by gas chromatography coupled with Electron Capture Detector (ECD). Pesticide concentrations were compared with UK/EU maximum residual limits (MRLs). Health risk estimates were analysed using estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard ratio (HR) for children (16.7 kg) and adults (60 kg) weight groups. The results of this study showed that 80% of the vegetable samples contained detectable pesticide residues, of which 70% had residues that exceeded MRLs while 20% had residues below detectable levels. The highest concentrations of HCH residues are present in cabbage with a concentration of 0.25 ± 0.15 mg/kg for α-HCH while the least are present in eggplant with concentration of 0.038 ± 0.025 mg/kg in lindane. Pirimophos-methyl was detected in cucumber at 0.017 mg/kg while parathion and isofenfos was detected only in eggplants at concentration of 0.042 mg/kg and 0.022 mg/kg respectively. Concentrations of parathion, chlorpyrifos, and pirimophos-methyl residues were lower than MRLs in all the detected vegetable samples analysed. Non-carcinogenic health risk estimates for the children consumer groups showed that mevinfos, p, pʹ DDD, aldrin, and heptachlor epoxide detected in eggplant, carrot, and cabbage had HQ > 1. While for adults, only p, pʹ DDD and heptachlor epoxide revealed non-carcinogenic effect in cabbage. Risk was highest for child consumers. However, most of the pesticide residues were less than 1 for the HQs value which is indicative of insignificant health risk. Human risk estimations for the carcinogenic health effect for the studied vegetables showed that lindane and delta HCH could pose carcinogenic health risks to adult, while aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, α HCH, β HCH, delta HCH, and heptachlor epoxide could pose carcinogenic health risks to children. The HRI values in some of the detected residues indicate that the cancer benchmark concentrations exceeded the EDI for the respective organochlorine pesticide in the vegetable samples, thus raising serious concerns of possible carcinogenicity. Non carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk assessment of organochlorine pesticide residues in the studied vegetable indicates health threat. Hence, strict monitoring and control of pesticide residues in agricultural products is being suggested, to protect consumers, especially the children who are vulnerable to the adverse effects of pesticides.

Keywords: hazard index ; organochlorine ; organophosphate ; risk assessment ; vegetables
Corresponding author: Daniel O. Omokpariola, Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Eligbolo, Anambra, 420261, Nigeria; and Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, Nigeria, E-mail:

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: None declared.

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

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Supplementary Material

This article contains supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/psr-2022-0317).

Received: 2022-10-27
Accepted: 2023-02-08
Published Online: 2023-03-01

© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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https://doi.org/10.1515/psr-2022-0317
Keywords for this article
hazard index; organochlorine; organophosphate; risk assessment; vegetables

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. Modern analytical approach in biopolymer characterization
  4. Development of nanocellulose fiber reinforced starch biopolymer composites: a review
  5. Recent developments in sago starch thermoplastic bio-composites
  6. Mechanical degradation of sugar palm crystalline nanocellulose reinforced thermoplastic sugar palm starch (TPS)/poly (lactic acid) (PLA) blend bionanocomposites in aqueous environments
  7. Computational design of the novel building blocks for the metal-organic frameworks based on the organic ligand protected Cu4 cluster
  8. Highly functional nanocellulose-reinforced thermoplastic starch-based nanocomposites
  9. Spectral peak areas do not vary according to spectral averaging scheme used in functional MRS experiments at 3 T with interleaved visual stimulation
  10. Triterpenoids of antibacterial extracts from the leaves of Bersama abyssinica Fresen (Francoaceae)
  11. Immediate effects of atrazine application on soil organic carbon and selected macronutrients and amelioration by sawdust biochar pretreatment
  12. Process configuration of combined ozonolysis and anaerobic digestion for wastewater treatment
  13. Concentration levels and risk assessment of organochlorine and organophosphate pesticide residue in selected cereals and legumes sold in Anambra State, south-eastern Nigeria
  14. XRD and cytotoxicity assay of submitted nanomaterial industrial samples in the Philippines
  15. Comparative study of the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light irradiation using Bi24O31Br11-anchored carbonaceous and silicates catalyst support
  16. Xanthoangelol, geranilated chalcone compound, isolation from pudau leaves (Artocarpus kemando Miq.) as antibacterial and anticancer
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  18. Integration of chemo- and bio-catalysis to intensify bioprocesses
  19. Fabrication of starch-based packaging materials
  20. Potato thermoplastic starch nanocomposite films reinforced with nanocellulose
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  22. Wheat thermoplastic starch composite films reinforced with nanocellulose
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  25. The investigation of the physical properties of an electrical porcelain insulator manufactured from locally sourced materials
  26. Concentration evaluation and risk assessment of pesticide residues in selected vegetables sold in major markets of Port Harcourt South-South Nigeria
  27. Detection of iodine in aqueous extract of plants through modified Mohr’s method
  28. Exploration of bioactive compounds from Mangifera indica (Mango) as probable inhibitors of thymidylate synthase and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-Κb) in colorectal cancer management
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