Determination of levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in some common grown and consumed vegetables purchased from Ho Municipal markets, Ghana

Using gas chromatography-electron capture detector protocol, pesticide residue levels on four common vegetables (cabbage, carrot, lettuce, and tomatoes) consumed in Ho Municipal, Ghana, were investigated. A total of 5 kg each of the vegetables were randomly sampled in triplicate and from three different markets. Organochlorine pesticides, including residues of gamma-HCH, delta-HCH, heptachlor, aldrin, p, p'-DDT, o, p'-DDT and p, p'-DDE detected in vegetables sampled were above recommended EU MRL. Lettuce recorded the highest aldrin (1.23 mg/kg) as well as gamma-HCH (0.013 mg/kg) residue levels, while heptachlor (1.05 mg/kg) and delta-HCH (0.23 mg/kg) were highest for cabbage. Maximal residues of p, p'-DDT (1.194 mg/kg) and p, p'-DDE (0.147 mg/kg) were found in tomatoes. Though consumption of these vegetables does not currently pose significant health risk to both adults and children, consumers should be careful as residues could accumulate and pose chronic health hazards. Hence, there is a need for constant surveillance to regulate pesticide use in vegetable farming.