Pesticide residues in three fishing sites in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Pesticides control pests and diseases in crops in order to enhance agricultural productivity; however, they are responsible for damaging aquatic resources. This study aimed to assess pesticide residues in aquatic ecosystems in Burkina Faso. Data were collected in two sampling sites: Bama and Banzon. Thus, in each sampling site, 35 producers were randomly chosen and surveys about pesticide use in the area were performed by distributing questionnaires to each chosen producer in Bama and Banzon. Fifteen (15) water samples were also collected from Bama Pond, Banzon, and the river of Deux Balé. The QuEChERS method was used to evaluate pesticide residue levels in water samples. The results indicated the existence of three classes of pesticides at varying rates: herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides were found to be used by 100%, 100%, and 71.42% of respondents, respectively. Water analysis revealed that the most commonly encountered insecticide was monocrotophos at concentrations of 0.188 µg/l, 0.077 µg/l, and 0.048 µg/l at Banzon, Bama, and Parc of Deux Balé sites, respectively. The highest herbicide level detected in water samples was metazachlor at concentrations of 0.099 µg/l, 0.068 µg/l, and 0.060 µg/l in Parc of Deux Balé, Bama, and Banzon, respectively. The fungicide propiconazole had the highest level detected in water at concentrations of 1.011 µg/l, 0.902 µg/l, and 0.622 µg/l in Bama, Parc of Deux Balé, and Banzon, respectively. These results indicate that the pesticide residue content in water exceeded the maximum residue limit defined by the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius.

Keywords: Burkina Faso; Fisheries; Pesticide residues; Pollution; Water.