Protocol for pesticide residue monitoring and risk assessment on water, sediment, and fish: A case study of two selected reservoirs in Ghana

Abdou Orou-Seko; Dennis Chirawurah; Jean-Pierre Gnimatin; Edéya Orobiyi Rodrigue Pèlèbè; Joyce Aputere Ndago; Doris Pwatirah; Martin Nyaaba Adokiya

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37251

Protocol for pesticide residue monitoring and risk assessment on water, sediment, and fish: A case study of two selected reservoirs in Ghana

Heliyon. 2024 Sep 6;10(17):e37251. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37251. eCollection 2024 Sep 15.

Authors

Abdou Orou-Seko^{1

2}, Dennis Chirawurah¹, Jean-Pierre Gnimatin³, Edéya Orobiyi Rodrigue Pèlèbè^{2

4}, Joyce Aputere Ndago³, Doris Pwatirah⁵, Martin Nyaaba Adokiya⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
² Research Laboratory in Aquaculture and Aquatic Ecotoxicology, University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin.
³ Department of Social and Behavioral Change, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
⁴ Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
⁵ Nurses and Midwives Training College, Tamale, Ghana.
⁶ Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Disease Control, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.

Abstract

Background: Africa is experiencing a significant surge in the use of pesticides on farms. Though the use of pesticide products on farms is increasing rapidly, the ability to monitor and regulate the practice has not kept pace. Despite their potential significance, the health and environmental impacts of the growing pesticide usage in developing nations remain inadequately comprehended and recorded.

Objective: This paper presents a research protocol for a study that seeks to provide criteria for future monitoring of pesticide residues in aquatic environments and food sources. This study aims to evaluate pesticide utilisation methods and the potential hazards of pesticide residues in aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, the study seeks to assess the human health risks linked to pesticide applications.

Methods: This study will employ a quantitative approach and cross-sectional design. It will utilise a combination of survey and the collection of biological and environmental samples. Our methodology consists of four distinct steps. These outline the processes for studying pesticide residue in environmental and fish samples. Additionally, we plan to employ mathematical algorithms to evaluate the ecological and health risks associated with these pesticide residues.

Conclusion: This study is an effort to monitor and assess the hazards to the environment and human well-being associated with the increasing utilisation of pesticides. It also aims to gather relevant data on pesticide utilisation practices that contribute to the contamination of aquatic ecosystems. It will specifically focus on determining the concentration of pesticide residues in both biological and environmental samples. Additionally, the study will assess the ecological and health risks associated with these pesticide residues. This will enable the incorporation of organised research efforts and coordinated pesticide surveillance operations for toxicovigilance.

Keywords: Contamination; Fish muscle; Gas chromatography; Mixture toxicity; Pesticide monitoring; Risk assessment; Sediment; Water.