Evaluation of Pesticide Residues in Fruits, Vegetables and Farmland Soil, and Their Health Implications Among Some Selected L.G.A in Niger State
Authors: Umaru Usman , Umar Abubakar 
Published: December 2024

The study evaluated pesticide residues in fruits, vegetables, and soil and their health risk implications in three Local Government Areas of Niger State. Thirty samples were collected from different farmland soils in Badeggi, Kuta, and Masuga irrigation farms. The QuEChERS method was used for GC/MS analysis. The health risk indices of pesticide residues were evaluated using the guidelines recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Concentrations of organochlorine pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables showed endosulfan II was significantly higher in all the samples analyzed, banana had the highest concentration of 0.655mg/kg, and cashew with the lowest concentration of 0.029mg/kg. The results also showed the presence of heptachlor epoxide in all the samples analyzed, guava had the highest concentration of 0.260mg/kg and lowest in watermelon with 0.035mg/kg both are above CODEX permissible limits of 0.02 mg/kg. Similarly, endosulfan I was as well higher than the CODEX permissible limits of 0.02mg/kg in four of the samples analyzed with 0.044mg/kg in spinach and 0.003mg/kg in cashew as highest and lowest respectively. Concentrations of b-cypermethrin residue in onions (0.306mg/kg), carrots (0.298mg/kg) and tomatoes (0.036mg/kg) were higher than the CODEX permissible limits of 0.02mg/kg. Relatedly, delta-BHC residue in banana (0.340 mg/kg) and spinach (0.233 mg/kg) were also higher than the CODEX permissible limits of 0.02mg/kg. However, residue concentrations of z-cypermethrin in five of the samples analyzed were below the CODEX permissible limits of 0.02mg/kg, except cashew with 0.033mg/kg which is higher than the CODEX permissible limit of 0.02mg/kg. The pesticides detected are insecticides with broad-spectrum. Pesticides residues contents in clay soil from the study areas were higher than the CODEX permissible limits of 0.02mg/kg in five samples analyzed with 0.670mg/kg and 0.001mg/kg as the highest and lowest respectively. Only two of the pesticides residue that were above the CODEX permissible limits of 0.02mg/kg in loamy soil with 0.20mg/kg and 0.001mg/kg as highest and lowest respectively. However, none of the pesticide residues detected above the CODEX permissible limits of 0.02mg/kg in sandy soil. Health risk estimation of organochlorine pesticide residues in guava, tomatoes, spinach, carrots and banana from the study area were more than 1 as recommended by USEPA, which portray a great health risk. However, the study showed no health risk associated with consuming cashew. The study also showed that, pesticides applied to vegetables and fruits in these three LGAs irrigation farmlands pollute soils. Generally, fruits, vegetables and soils from the irrigation farmlands contained residues of different pesticides in varying concentrations. The study recommends among others that pesticides banned by the country should be properly checked by the regulatory bodies so as to ensure a complete phase-out of these highly hazardous pesticides, and farmers must ensure a good agricultural practice (GAP) in the application of these pesticides.