Abstract:
Pesticides have been known to be extensively used to ensure high crop yields both
during production and for post-harvest treatment. This increased use of the pesticides
has resulted in pollution of the environment and also has caused many associated
short-term and long-term effects on human health. Hence, this study is to analyze the
pesticide residues in the pineapples sold by various fruits vendors in Winneba as well
as compare the residual levels with EU MRL‘s. Gas chromatography with selective
electron capture detector (GC-ECD), gas chromatography with pulsed flame
photometric detector (PFPD), and Liquid chromatography mass spectrometer (LCMS)
were used to detect and determine the amount of organochlorine insecticides,
organophosphate insecticides and herbicide and growth regulators respectively.
Results from the analysis of the pineapples showed that there were no organochlorine
and organophosphate insecticides in any of the pineapple samples. However, some
herbicides and growth regulators were detected in some of the pineapple samples with
fluazifop having the least mean concentration of 0.0001 ± 0.0001mg/kg and ethephon
having the highest mean concentration of 0.0032 ± 0.00102mg/kg. Also, from the
results of the detected pesticide residues, the finding shows that none of the pesticides
detected exceeded the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) established by the European
Union (EU). This therefore shows that despite the occurrence of pesticide residues in
some of the samples, it could still be considered safe for human consumption.
Nevertheless, further investigation and research and continuous monitoring with more
strict regulation of pesticide residues in the food commodities is highly recommended.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Chemistry Education, Faculty of Science, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Philosophy (Chemistry Education) in the University of Education, Winneba
MARCH, 2022