Microbial Risk Assessment of Vegetables Irrigated with Akaki River Water in Addis Ababa.

Abstract

Background: Consumption of vegetable plays important role in human health. Above 60% of Addis Ababa, vegetable demand is covered by smallholder farmers who grow various vegetables by using the Akaki River as their main water source for irrigation. However, applying faecally contaminated water for irrigation could expose fresh vegetable consumers to many health problems. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the microbial contamination of irrigation water and freshly produced vegetables. The study assessed the quality of Akaki river water and vegetables. Fresh vegetables including Ethiopian Kale, Lettuce, Cabbage, and Spinach were collected from 14 farmlands, irrigated with Akaki River water, in the dry and wet seasons. Using standard methods, analysis of E.coli, Non-E.coli, Total coliform, fecal coliform, and Total Aerobic Plate Count were done among the Akaki River water and vegetables. Result: The finding of the study indicated that all fresh vegetables were contaminated with total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and Total aerobic in the dry and wet seasons. The overall mean count of E. coli and Non-E. Coli from water samples were 2.09 and >3.48 log10 CFU 10 mL−1. The mean count of TC, FC, and TAC on sampled vegetables were 3.22, 1.37, and 4.72 in the dry season, and 3.87, 2.57, and 5.09 log10 CFU per gram in the wet season, respectively.Conclusion: The Akaki River has been contaminated with non-E. Coli & E. coli coliforms and did not meet the WHO guideline criteria for safe irrigation. The microbial contamination of vegetables was found high and exceeded the HACCPTQM and ICMSF limit values for safe consumption. This calls for farmers and the consumer has to insist on properly processed/stored/sliced fresh vegetables needs to be aware.

Evaluation of the Effect of Wastewater Irrigation on the Microbiological Quality of Vegetables in Northeast Ethiopia: Implication for Food-Borne Infection and Intoxications

“…Slightly higher result (4.75 log CFU/g) TBC was also reported in lettuce samples irrigated with Akaki river water in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. 13 The mean TBC of the cabbage sample in this study was found to be 4.6 log CFU/g. Higher values, though (7.2, 7.5, and 7.4 log CFU/g, respectively) were noted in the Ethiopian towns of Harer, Mekelle, and Fiche, respectively.…”

“…19 As a result, we observed that freshly grown vegetables might contain pathogenic microbes, posing a risk of food-borne disease to consumers. 13 In our study, the nearby villages discharge their waste directly into the river where farmers once grew vegetables, contaminating the vegetables grown. Consuming these infected vegetables could therefore expose one to microbiological risks that could result in a number of infectious ailments, including gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and typhoid and paratyphoid fevers.…”

“…1 Ethiopia’s existing pollution legislation is ineffective and poorly applied, making it difficult to protect water bodies and other environmental entities. 13…”

“…1 Ethiopia's existing pollution legislation is ineffective and poorly applied, making it difficult to protect water bodies and other environmental entities. 13 Apart from plant nutrients, irrigation wastewater may also contain a variety of pathogenic microorganisms. 9,11 The use of untreated wastewater for irrigation may transfer these pathogenic microorganisms to the vegetables during either farming, transporting, or even consumption due to poor handling practice, unclean hygienic condition of the preparation area, or the use of contaminated water to rinse vegetables.…”

Evaluating long-term impacts of land use/land cover changes on pollution loads at a catchment scale

“…The water quality of the majority of Ethiopia's rivers is being negatively impacted by a variety of pollutants that result from both natural processes (such as organic matter, sediment transport, landfills, and so on) and anthropogenic influences (such as urbanization, industrial wastes, and agricultural intensifications) (Moges et al 2016;Kassegne et al 2018;Mengesha et al 2021). One significant issue endangering the water resources of Ethiopia's catchments is nonpoint source contamination brought on mainly by unsustainable agricultural activities and uncontrolled deforestation.…”