Assessment of the effects of pesticide use in tomato production on human health, micro- flora dynamics and shelf-life of harvested fruit in Akumadan

The use of pesticides in tomato production in Ghana though beneficial in executing instant control of pests and subsequent increase in yield, it has been associated with many problems. There are reported cases of over use and misapplication leading to the presence of residues on harvested fruits and environmental health effects. This study serves as a baseline study to assess dangerous practices in pesticide application, their effects on farmers’ health and presence! removal of residue on fruit. The study was conducted at Akumadan a major tomato-growing centre, and the control area Bechem, a small farming village in Ghana. Methods used were interviews, observations, chemical and microbial analyses. Data was also collected from the hospitals, chemical sellers and herbalist in the study areas. Results from this study indicated an on going gross overuse and misuse of a wide range of broad-spectrum pesticide among tomato farmers in Akumadan. Practices encouraging high exposure and risk of intoxication from pesticide include long duration of pesticide use at a time by respondents (96%), long contact period between 2 to 8 hours a day and frequent application rate of 8 or more times per season. Prevalence of studied symptoms experienced by respondents was significantly higher for Akumadan farmers than for farmers in Bechem. Women helping out in tomato farms in Akumadan had experienced a higher frequency of miscarriages (87.8%) as compared to those of their counterparts in Bechem (16.1%). Treating tomatoes with pesticide reduced their microbial population. However such tomatoes had an increased rate of decay. Washing tomatoes with sponge or warm water and or keeping it in a refrigerator immediately after harvesting increased its shelf life. Pesticide treated tomatoes appeared redder and felt firmer and had a longer shelf life than non-pesticide treated. Analysis of pesticide residue on tomatoes indicated a marked decrease in pesticide residue with each form of washing, although not all forms of washing were effective in removing the residue to the required limits. Acute poisoning in man only becomes a problem when children weighing 20 kg or below, eat unwashed just pesticide treated tomatoes. Boiling of pesticide-contaminated tomatoes in soup was not able to destroy or remove pesticide residue. Three times washing in 3 bowls of water or the removal of epiearp appeared the best way of preventing chronic poisoning especially in the case of Lindane. Increasing of the re-entry interval from same day of application to 3 weeks after spraying was the most effective way of reducing pesticide residues on the tomatoes. There is the need for further studies to investigate the problems associated with pesticide induced ill health as well as research into appropriate and affordable Pesticide Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE needs to be subsidised. Training of agriculture and health workers in safety precautions, recognition and management of pesticide related ill health is a matter of urgency in Akumadan. Information concerning the dangers of the presence of pesticide residues on tomato fruits when eaten, recommendations for minimizing these and the alternative measures must be made known to consumers.

Source: KNUST