Pesticide Residues on Tomatoes Grown and Consumed in Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Kirinyaga County, Kenya
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Date
2021
Authors
Nakhungu, Momanyi Violet
Margaret, N. Keraka
Abong’o, Deborah A.
Warutere, Peterson N.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research
Abstract
The effects of pesticides on human health are of great concern worldwide despite their usefulness
in agriculture. The aim of the study was to evaluate pesticide residues on tomatoes grown and
consumed in Kirinyaga County in order to determine whether the levels fall within recommended
MRLs. Reported increased use of unspecified pesticides and undocumented residue levels in
tomatoes produced in the country justified the need to evaluate pesticide residues in tomatoes
grown in the area and consumed locally. The study, which was conducted in Mwea Irrigation
Scheme, Kirinyaga County, Kenya between July 2017 and July 2018 used analytical study design.
Tomato samples of Rambo variety mainly grown in open fields and greenhouses in the Irrigation
Scheme were purposively sampled from thirty-five sampling sites in open fields, greenhouses, markets and consumers. The samples were taken to Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services
(KEPHIS) laboratory in Nairobi for analysis. Analysis was done using Quick Easy Cheap Effective
Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) multi-residue analytical method for Low-Fat products. Four
pesticide residues detected on tomatoes above the recommended EU and Cordex MRLs were:
malathion (0.0315±0.0032 mg/kg) in open fields, carbendazim (1.2341±0.1667 mg/kg) and
thiamethoxam (0.3736±0.0358 mg/kg) from greenhouses and acephate (0.0321±0.0032 mg/kg)
from the market. Pesticide residue levels of tomatoes from consumers were all significantly
(p<0.001, p<0.01) below the EU and Cordex permitted MRLs. Occurrence of pesticide residues on
tomatoes from production to consumption levels is of great concern to consumers because of the
perceived long term negative health effects. Implementation, strengthening and enforcement of the
food policy in the country will enhance frequent monitoring of pesticide residue levels in fresh
produce consumed locally in Kenya.
Description
An Article Published in Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research
Keywords
Tomatoes, Pesticide residues, Open field, Greenhouse, Market, Consumer, Health