Assessing the health and environmental risks of phytosanitary practices used by market gardening in the Yaounde 7 area (Nkolbisson) in Cameroon

DJUIDJE KOUOMOU Peguy Flora, JIOFACK TAFOKOU René Bernadin and LALONG TADAH Vanelle

Net Journal of Agricultural Science
Published: September 6 2021
Volume 9, Issue 3
Pages 44-50

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the health and environmental risks associated with the use of phytosanitary products in market gardening in Yaoundé 7 area (Nkolbisson), Centre region of Cameroon. A survey was conducted among 40 market gardeners and 6 samples of water collected from rivers, wells and boreholes were analyzed in the laboratory to measure the residues of pesticides, using the Gas Chromatography technique (GC). The results showed that insecticides and fungicides were the most phytosanitary products used by smallholder farmers to supply local markets with vegetable and other foodstuffs; in addition, to these intensive use of insecticides and fungicides, it has been observed that involving market gardeners conducts their activities without using any suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as respiratory masks, gloves and adapted clothes. Cumulative results show that around 80% of respondents do not wear masks or mufflers (57.5%), and adapted clothing (98%) during the application of phytosanitary products. The direct consequence of these bad practices is recurrent health problems affecting producers like itching (82.5%), headache (75%), frequent sneezing (52.5%), dizziness (22.5%) and vomiting (17.5%). Empty phytosanitary packages were usually abandoned in farms (67.5%) and incineration (25%) was the preferred method of discarding these empty packages. Water analysis revealed a concentration of 13.74 g/L of metalaxyl, an antifungal active substance in one river water and a small quantity of cypermethrin in a trace. This concentration greatly exceeds the WHO guidance value (0.05 µg/L), which discredited the uses of this water in consumption. Based on the above results, these inappropriate practices expose these smallholder farmers and consumers to high health risks and also contribute to environmental degradation.

Keywords: Risk, health, environment, phytosanitary products, market gardening, Nkolbisson.

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