Pesticides in use, their application and risks on human health and ecosystems: A case of Fogera District, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

The effects of pesticides are largely a function of toxicity, exposure time, dose rate and its persistence in the environment. Previous studies conducted in the study area mainly focused on the knowledge, attitude and practices of farmers against implementation of pesticide safety instructions during application and storing the pesticides. Hence, the objectives of the present study were to assess the pesticides applied on crops per a cropping season; the pesticide application practices of farmers and the health risks of pesticide residues on humans and the ecosystems. Quantitative data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were grouped and summarized. The findings of the study confirmed that crops were sprayed with pesticides up to 26 times per a cropping season. A hectare of farmland might be sprayed more than 14 kg and 28 kg of pesticides per a cropping season and per a year. In addition to solid formulations, farmers used more than four liters of pesticides per crop per hectare. Farmers sprayed highly toxic pesticides without following the safety instructions and supplied the sprayed crops without waiting for the post-spray time interval. Most pesticides used in the district are in the lists of highly hazardous pesticides and are highly toxic to aquatic organisms including fish. There were also practices of fishing using pesticides in rivers of Fogera District and symptoms of surface water pollution used for drinking. Hence, pesticide residues might be one of the major health risks for farmworkers, consumers and ecosystems of the District. Therefore, monitoring the pesticide supply chain starting from suppliers to end users, continuous ecosystem assessment and food safety monitoring using GC-MS are needed to minimize the effects of pesticide residues on human health and the ecosystems.

KEYWORDS:

• Pesticide residues
• law enforcement
• fishing
• toxicity
• water pollution
• effects of pesticides

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

The effects of pesticide residues are becoming a severe problem of human health and ecosystems all over the world. Its effects are mainly a function of toxicity, exposure time, dose rate and persistence in the environment. Farmers in the study area sprayed huge amount of highly toxic pesticides without following the safety instructions and supplied the pesticide-sprayed crops without waiting for the post-spray time interval. There were also practices of fishing using pesticides in rivers and consequently fish population declines in water bodies. There are also higher prevalence of blindness and vision impairment, hypersensitivity and self-suicide, diabetes and cancer among farmworkers in the District. Pesticide residues are one of the top ten health risks in the District for farmworkers and consumers and threat to ecosystems. Thus, everybody should exert his/her effort to protect him/her and the environment from risks of pesticide residues.

Authors’ contribution

Abebaw Abaineh, Dessalegn Ejigu and Minaleshewa Atlabachew participated in field data collection and data analysis. Moreover Abebaw Abaineh contributed in the conception of the study and prepared the first draft of the manuscript. Eshete Dejen helped in the conception of the study and edited the manuscript. Gashaw Tilahun supported during field data collection and data analysis. Dessalegn Ejigu and Minaleshewa Atlabachew contributed in through revision of the manuscript. Abebaw Abaineh contributed in manuscript completion and its submission as a corresponding author to a journal for possible publication. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript. This manuscript was not submitted anywhere else before for publication.

Availability of Data

The data generated and/or analyzed to support the findings of the study is available from the corresponding author, [AA], up on reasonable request.

Consent to Publish

The Author agreed to publish the manuscript in open access journal at no cost to the author or benefit from discounted article publishing charge.

Consent to participate

All participants of the study have been properly informed and agreed to participate without any pressure or coercion.

Disclosure statement

All the authors declared that there was no relevant financial or non-financial interest.

Additional information

Funding

The study was financially supported by Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) project office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Notes on contributors

Abebaw Abaineh

Abebaw Abaineh Assefa Source: Self-field photo captured during data collection (location: Shina sub district, Fogera district, south Gondar administrative zone of Amhara region, Ethiopia)