title: Monitoring of pesticide residues of five notable vegetables at Agbogbloshie market in Accra, Ghana.
abstract: The study monitored the concentrations of pesticide residues in vegetables arriving at Agbogbloshie, a central market in the Accra Metropolis from different parts of Ghana and beyond. A total of 810 samples of 5 different vegetables from Central, Volta, Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern Regions, and neighboring country (Togo) were collected from January 2009 through to December 2011. In all, 18 % of the samples had no detectable residues, 62 % were below the maximum residue limits (MRLs), and 20 % also exceeded the EU (MRLs) adopted values. Overall, lettuce contained the highest number of residues above their MRLs besides cucumber and cabbage. The pesticide residues were mainly organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids. The results demonstrate the need for continuous monitoring of pesticide residues in vegetables arriving at the various major markets in Ghana.
authors.affiliation: Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Ghana Standards Authority, P.O. Box MB 245, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Osei-Fosu
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Donkor
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nyarko
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Nazzah
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Asante
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kingsford-Adabo
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Arkorful
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005869:Ghana; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000032:analysis; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010573:Pesticide Residues; D011722:Pyrethrins