HEALTH RISK OF AGROCHEMICALS USAGE IN TOMATO (Lycopersicum esculentum) PRODUCTION IN THE OFFINSO-NORTH DISTRICT OF GHANA

Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) is prominent among vegetables produced in Ghana. About ninety percent (90%) of the population of the study area are engaged primarily in tomato production. Due to the problem posed by pests and diseases and the vulnerability of vegetables to most of these pests and diseases, a variety of pesticides including organophosphates, Organochlorines, carbamates, and synthetic pyrethroids are used extensively to deal with this persistent problem. The study was conducted to assess the current patterns and practices of pesticides use by farmers in three communities in the study area to investigate the level of farmers’ exposure to agrochemicals. Pesticide residue analysis on selected sampled tomatoes from the study area was carried out to determine whether they were within the FAO/WHO set Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). Field data collected indicated that almost all (99%) of the farmers do not practice any form of safety precautions in the handling of agrochemicals on and off the farm. Laboratory analysis of tomato fruits revealed eleven (11) organophosphates and fourteen (14) organochlorines and synthetic pyrethroid residues in the samples from the three study communities. The residues detected included DDT and its derivative DDD. However, levels of most of the detected residues in the tomato samples were below the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) of FAO/WHO except banned Heptachlor. All residues posed no health risks to consumers except Heptachlor, Chlorfenvinphos and Dieldrin which had estimated health indices of 5.92, 1.48 and 3.7 respectively.