Analysis of insecticide residues in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Capitata) from three major markets in Kumasi

Abstract

Cabbage from 3 major markets (Abinchi, Bantama and Sofoline) in Kumasi were screened for organochlorine, organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticide residues. Ninety cabbage heads-30 from each market-were randomly sampled and analysed at the Pesticide Residues Laboratories of the Ghana Standards Authority, Accra. The analysis was carried out using Multiple Reaction Monitoring by Gas Chromatography-Pulsed Flame Photometric Detector (GC-PFPD), Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD) and Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) method to detect residues. The limit of detection (LOD) of organochlorine was set at 0.005 mg/kg and that of organophosphate and pyrethroid was set at 0.01 mg/kg. We observed that no organochlorine was present in any of the samples. Only Diazinon was present in the samples from Abinchi and Bantama but at a level (0.003 ± 0.006 mg/kg) below the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.01 mg/kg for cabbage. However, there was a multi-residue contamination in samples from the Sofoline market with Diazinon (0.057 ± 0.098 mg/kg), Cypermethrin (0.007 ± 0.012 mg/ kg), Fenvalerate (0.010 ± 0.017 mg/kg) and Lambda-cyhalothrin (0.003 ± 0.006 mg/kg). With these, only the Diazinon was found to exceed its established MRL (0.01 mg/ kg) and so is more likely to pose danger to consumers health.

Pesticide Residues and Effect of Household Processing in Commonly Consumed Vegetables in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

“…This may be an indication that DDT and its metabolites were not used in cabbage farming from those sampling areas. Apart from that, those pesticides may be below their limit of detection, which is consistent with a study from Ghana [ 43 ]. However, the result of this study was against the study done in Senegal and Tanzania, which reported the most critical commodity with multiple existences of pesticides including DDT and its metabolites were cabbage [ 8 , 40 ].…”

Insecticidal activity of <i>Ricinus communis L.</i> seed extract against <i>Spodoptera frugiperd</i>a J.E. Smith under laboratory and field conditions

“…The immediate response by the rural farmers was the use of the chemical pesticides from hazardous origins. Knowing the negative impact of the chemical pesticides on the environment and human health (Assogba-Komlan et al, 2007;Agboyi et al, 2015;Ngom et al, 2012;Otchere et al, 2020), along with the development of resistance in the pest and the non-target effects (Yehouenou et al, 2006), there was an urgent need to search fora sustainable and ecofriendly solution for the management of the FAW on maize. This study was embedded in the national research program in Togo, West Africa, to implement eco-friendly strategies for control of the FAW on maize.…”