Pesticide Residues in Cabbage and Nile Tilapia and Implications on Human Health and Ecosystems: A Case of Fogera District in Ethiopia

Abstract

Pesticides have posed health risks to consumers and the ecosystems in different parts of the world, including Ethiopia, and researchers recommend continual assessments of pesticide residues in food items and ecosystems to know the level of risks. This study aimed to quantify the pesticide residues in samples of cabbage and fish and their risks to humans and the ecosystems. The cabbage samples were collected from April to May 2023 from 3 market centers, and the fish samples were collected in June 2023 from two fish ponds of Fogera District of Ethiopia using appropriate sampling procedures, extracted using the modified QuEChERS methods, and analyzed using a triple quadrupole GC/MS technique to quantify the pesticide residues and level the risks to humans and the ecosystems. The findings of the present study confirmed that all the samples of cabbage and fish were contaminated with pesticide residues. More than 44% and 37% of pesticide residues detected in both cabbage and fish samples were organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides, respectively. Furthermore, 92.86% of the pesticide residues and 96.43% of the maximum pesticide residues in cabbage exceeded the MRL and the TQ set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The sum total hazard indices of the pesticide residues in the cabbage (22.320) and fish (43.071) were much higher than the threshold value. Though Fogera District is a potential area for fish production in ponds, agricultural pesticides are a threat to the sector. Establishing an efficient system of monitoring for the pesticide supply chain and application procedures, choosing the appropriate pesticide types, timing in spraying, and establishing pesticide-free buffer zones are crucial steps in mitigating the negative effects of pesticides in the area.