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Ecological risk assessment of agricultural pesticides in the highly productive Ndop flood plain in Cameroon using the PRIMET model

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Abstract

Flood plains can make a significant contribution to food security due to their rich agricultural and aquaculture potentials but the misuse of pesticides in these ecosystems may seriously threaten their sustainability. We have assessed the risk of commonly used pesticides by rice and vegetable farmers on two major streams in the Ndop flood plain in Cameroon using the PRIMET model. Thirty pesticide formulations were identified containing 17 active ingredients belonging to fungicides (7), herbicides (3), and insecticides (7). Out of these, five posed acute and/or chronic risks to the streams. Chlorpyriphos-ethyl (ETR = 655), chlorothalonil (ETR = 250), and cypermethrin (ETR = 190) posed a definite acute risk to both streams. These pesticides also posed possible chronic risks with cypermethrin also posing a definite chronic risk (ETR = 1658) to fish in one of the streams. Mancozeb (ETR = 2.2) and λ-cyhalothrin (ETR = 2.8) posed a possible acute risk to both streams. It was interesting to note that most pesticides, including some of those that posed a risk, were applied at lower doses than their respective recommended doses. Differences in ETRs were also observed in the two streams with higher values occurring in the stream having a lower concentration of suspended solids. The higher velocity of the Ngwala-Mesaw stream did not affect the acute risk posed by pesticides. Pesticide toxicity was an important determinant in the risk posed and we recommend that appropriate mitigation measures be put in place to reduce the risk of these pesticides such as the implementation of an appropriate buffer zone between the edge of field and water body.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. Tepoule Joseph of the University of Buea, Cameroon, for his assistance in production of the map of the study site. We are also grateful to Ms. Wanja Bridget Ambonchi of UNVDA Ndop for field assistance.

Funding

This work was accomplished thanks to the International Foundation for Science (IFS) Grant No.: W/4941-1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

    Patricia Bi Asanga Fai & Francis Ngealekeloeh

  2. College of Technology, The University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon

    Patricia Bi Asanga Fai

  3. Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

    Nkwatoh Therese Ncheuveu & Martin Ngankam Tchamba

  4. Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC), Bamenda, Cameroon

    Nkwatoh Therese Ncheuveu

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  1. Patricia Bi Asanga Fai
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Correspondence to Patricia Bi Asanga Fai.

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Fai, P.B.A., Ncheuveu, N.T., Tchamba, M.N. et al. Ecological risk assessment of agricultural pesticides in the highly productive Ndop flood plain in Cameroon using the PRIMET model. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 24885–24899 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05592-2

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