Abstract

ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES OBTAINED IN VEGETABLES IN THE KENYAN MARKET ON BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

Rose Inonda, Charles Mutai, Eliud Njage, Joseph Ngeranwa and Rhonest Ntaiya

ABSTRACT

Background: In Kenya, pesticides are used to improve the agricultural output by controlling weeds, insects and plant diseases. A wide range of pesticides are generally used for the production of vegetables and other agricultural product due to pest infestation mainly. These pesticides have potentially adverse effects on human health since they work on biological systems of the pests which may have some similarity to the biological systems in humans. In addition, these pesticides function by targeting biological systems in the target organisms. Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine pesticide residues in locally consumed vegetables then to further analyse the effects of these residues on biological systems using an animal model. Materials and method: A total of 112 vegetables samples were collected and analysed for pesticide residues using gas chromatography. The maximum residues obtained were given to experimental animals – rabbits over a period of 3 months. Biochemical and hematological analytes were checked in the process to see how they vary with time. Results: The pesticide residues mainly found were organophosphates. These on being administered to experimental animals had effects on some analytes such as cholinesterase, bilirubin, hemoglobin and proteins. Conclusion: This study shows that the pesticide residues obtained in some of our vegetables has the ability to affect biological systems and thus could have harmful effects if this exposure continues for long.

Keywords: Pesticide residues, vegetables, biological effects.