Organophosphorus Pesticide Residues in Soil Samples from Nanumba North Municipality, Ghana
The objective of this study was to assess the levels of organophosphorus pesticide residues in soil samples from the Nanumba-North Municipality of the Northern region of Ghana using Gas Chromatography equipped with a Pulsed flame photometric detector (GC-PFPD). Ten (10) soil samples from the Nanumba-North Municipality of the Northern Region of Ghana were collected and analysed.
Seven (7) organophosphorus pesticide residues were detected in the soil samples at varying mean concentrations. Organophosphorus pesticide residues detected in the soil samples of some selected farms in the Nanumba-North Municipality were parathion, methamidophos, chlorpyrifos, malathion, diazinon, chlorfenvinphos, and profenofos. The study revealed the presence of most of the organophosphorus pesticide residues at varying concentrations, with methamidophos recording significant concentrations in soil samples.
The mean concentrations of pesticide residues in the soil samples analysed from the study site were generally below (2017) WHO MRLs for agricultural soils, except for methamidophos from BCS1 (0.068 µg/L) which was above the (2017) WHO permissible limit of 0.050 µg/L for agricultural soils, respectively. Organophosphorus pesticide residues detected showed significant differences at p < 0.05.
Holistically, the detection of organophosphorus pesticide residues in the analysed samples indicates that farmers in the study area use pesticides to control pests and diseases.
Keywords: organophosphorus pesticides; Nanuma-North Municipality; GC-PFPD; pests and diseases
