The Bioscientist (Mar 2022)
DETERMINATION AND HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN WATERMELON (Citrullus lanatus) FRUIT SAMPLES IN WUKARI, NIGERIA
Abstract
Synthetic chemical pesticides have been globally used to suppress yield loss attributable to pest attack on crop-plants and human exposure to these chemicals has largely been through food consumption. To reduce harmful impacts of pesticides on humans, health risk assessment is imperative. This study thus determined the levels and risks associated with the consumption of selected pesticides in watermelon fruits in Wukari, Nigeria and also compared the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) with the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of the pesticides. A total of 90 sub-samples of watermelon fruits were assayed for 8 organochlorine, 9 organophosphate and 6 pyrethroid pesticides using a GS-MS (7980A) – hyphenated to a mass spectrophotometer (5975C). The mean recoveries were within 80% – 115% with relative standard deviations of ADI. Samples with residues more than FAO/WHO recommended Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) were 50% and 31%, respectively for organochlorines and organophosphates (none for pyrethroids). While, none of the samples had Health Risk Index (HRI) greater than 1 for pyrethroids in both children and adults; 2.08% and 1.96% had for organochlorines and organophosphates, respectively. The study thus revealed negligible health risk associated with watermelon consumption in the study area and showed that children have higher risks than adults.
