It is estimated that 25% of the globally produced pesticides are used in developing countries and African farmers use only 4%. However, more than 90% of the global minimum of 300,000 death cases related to pesticides poisoning annually are believed to occur in developing countries. Efforts have been made worldwide to restrict or ban the use of persistent pesticides while regulating the use of other pesticides to ensure environmental and food safety. However, most pesticide dealers and users of man y developing countries including Ghana have not come to terms with the associated safety practices that ensure a safe use to keep the integrity of our environment. Pesticide residues have been detected in food, water, water sediment, air, blood and human breastmilk because of pesticide abuses. This paper reviews some abuse practices during handling and storage, application, or disposal; associated exposures; public health risks associated with the abuse practices; as well as issues of monitoring and enforcement. Some instances of casualties are also discussed.

The ascorbic acid (vitamin C) levels of several Ghanaian varieties of yam (Dioscorea spp.) have been investigated. The distribution of the vitamin within the tuber and the effects of different conditions of growth, of length of post‐harvest storage and of different cooking methods have also been studied. Natural vitamin C levels in fresh material are found to vary greatly between varieties, but little with the district where the crop was grown. Most varieties studied contained between 6.5 and 11 mg of ascorbic acid/100g, but some contain as little as 4.5 or as much as 21.5 mg/100g. Losses during storage up to 4 months are comparatively slight in sound tubers, but severe if the tubers are damaged or bruised before storage. The retention of the vitamin during cooking varies from 65 to 95%, with different cooking techniques. Even allowing for these losses in storage and on cooking, the quantities of yam consumed in West African diets should normally be adequate to supply the entire vitamin C requirements of the consumer.

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