Abstract
Increased use of agrochemical products to improve yields for irrigated crops in sub-Saharan Africa has been accompanied by a significant increase in the risk of environmental contamination. Detailed examples of the fate of pesticides after initial spreading on crop fields are scarce in tropical regions, where safe practices and related health risks are poorly understood by smallholder farmers. In the semi-arid environment of the Lake Chad Basin, SE Niger, both intrinsic properties of pesticides and extrinsic factors such as soil and climate helped to characterize processes leading to an accumulation of pesticides in soils. Analysis by HPLC-UV of a 6 m deep soil profile showed the presence of Paraquat at concentrations from 953 ± 102 μg kg−1 to 3083 ± 175 μg kg−1 at depths between 0.80 and 2.75 m below the land surface. Soil analysis revealed that up to approximately 15 % of the total soil matrix consists of smectites, a clay mineral capable of retaining cationic pesticides such as Paraquat, and a very low content of organic matter (<0.15 wt.% TOC). Paraquat could be stored and not bioavailable in a clayey barrier at approximately 2-m depth and therefore does not represent an immediate risk for populations or environment in this form. However, if the Paraquat application rate remains constant, the clayey barrier could reach a saturation limit within 150–200 years and 180–220 years if we consider a DT50 in soil of ~1,000 days (FAO). Consequently, it could lead to a deeper infiltration and so a pollution of groundwater. Such a scenario can represent a health risk for drinking water and for the Lake Chad, which is a major resource for this densely populated region of semi-arid Africa. Further analyses should focus on deeper layers and groundwater Paraquat contents to validate or invalidate the hypothesis of storage in this clay-rich layer.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Akinloye OA, Adamson I, Ademuyiwa O, Arowolo TA (2011) Paraquat toxicity and its mode of action in some commonly consumed vegetables in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Int J Plant Physiol Biochem 3(4):75–82
Anderson JR, Drew EA (1972) Growth characteristics of a species Lipomyces and its degradation of Paraquat. J Gen Microbiol 70:43–58
Arias-Estévez M, López-Periago E, Martínez-Carballo E, Simal-Gándara J, Mejuto JC, García-Río L (2008) The mobility and degradation of pesticides in soils and the pollution of groundwater resources. Agr Ecosyst Environ 123:247–260
Awadelkarim KD, Mariani-Constantini R, Elwali NE (2012) Cancer in the Sudan: an overview of the current status of knowledge on tumor patterns and risk factors. Sci Total Environ 423:214–228
Babatunde MM, Oladimeji AA, Balogun JK (2001) Acute toxicity of gramoxone to Oreaochromis niloticus (Trewavas) in Nigeria. Water Air Soil Poll 131:1–10
Baran N, Lepiller M, Mouvet C (2008) Agricultural diffuse pollution in a chalk aquifer (Trois Fontaines, France): influence of pesticide properties and hydrodynamic constraints. J Hydrol 358(1–2):56–69
Barbiéro L, Mohamedou AO, Lucien Roger L, Furian S, Aventurier A, Rémy JC et al (2005) The origin of vertisols and their relationship to acid sulfate soils in the Senegal valley. Catena 59:93–116
Bassett T (2010) Reducing hunger vulnerability through sustainable development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107:5697–5698
Bending G, Lincoln S, Edmonson R (2005) Spatial variation in the degradation rate of the pesticides isoproturon, azoxystrobin and diflufenican in soil and its relationship with chemical and microbial properties. Environ Pollut 139(2):279–287
Berg H (2002) Rice monoculture and integrated rice-fish farming in the Mekong delta, Vietnam economic and ecological considerations. Ecol Econ 41:95–107
Berny PJ, de Buffrénil V, Hémery G (2006) Use of the Nile monitor, Varanus niloticus L (Reptilia: Varanidae), as a bioindicator of organochlorine pollution in African wetlands. B Environ Contam Tox 77:359–366
Berry C, La Vecchia C, Nicotera P (2010) Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. Cell Death Differ 17:1115–1125
Bolan NS, Baskaran S (1996) Biodegradation of 2,4-D herbicide as affected by its sorption–desorption behavior and microbial activity of soils. Aust J Soil Res 34:1041–1053
Calamari D (1985) Review of the state of aquatic pollution of West and Central African inland waters. FAO-FI-CIFA O P, report No.: 12; 32 p.
Ciliberti A, Berny P, Vey D, de Buffrenil V (2012) Assessing environmental contamination around obsolete pesticide stcokpiles in West Africa: using the Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) as a sentinel species. Environ Toxicol Chem 31:387–394
Constenla MA, Riley D, Kennedy SH, Rojas CE, Mora LE, Stevens JEB (1990) Paraquat behavior in Costa Rican soils and residues in coffee. J Agric Food Chem 38:1985–1988
Court of Justice of the European Union. The court of first instance annuls the directive authorising Paraquat as an active plant protection substance. Judgment of the Court of First Instance in case T-229/04. Kingdom of Sweden Commission of the European Communities. http://curia.europa.eu/en/actu/communiques/cp07/aff/cp070045en.pdf. Assessed 11 July 2007
Damanakis M, Drennan DS, Fryer JD, Holly K (1970) The adsorption and mobility of paraquat on different soils and soil constituents. Weed Res 10:264–277
Descalzo RC, Punja ZK, André Lévesque C, Rahe JE (1998) Glyphosate treatment of bean seedlings causes short-term increases in Pythium populations and damping off potential in soils. Appl Soil Ecol 8:25–33
Descloitres M, Le Troquer Y, inventors (2004) Sonde de diagraphie électrique pour la mesure de la résistivité sur la paroi d’un forage. French patent Bulletin Officiel de la Propriété Industrielle Report No.: 2845 416; INPI
Ecobichon DJ (2001) Pesticide use in developing countries. Toxicology 160:27–33
FAO (2000) La situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture. Enseignements des 50 dernières années. Document de travail de l'économie agricole et du développement, 32, 21p
FAO (2003) Pesticide residues in food. Document 057: Paraquat. World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, pp 533–697
FAO (2005) Food supply situation and crop prospects in sub-Saharan Africa. FAO GIEWS report No.: 3
FAO/WHO (2011) 5th FAO/WHO joint meeting on pesticide management and 7th session of the FAO panel of experts on pesticide management. 11–14 October 2011, Rome, 46p
Favreau G, Scanlon BR, Reedy RC (2008) Impact of land clearing and irrigation on groundwater recharge in the Lake Chad Basin, Africa. Geol Soc Am Joint Meet Houst 40(6):470
Fryer JD, Hance RJ, Ludwig JW (1975) Long-term persistence of Paraquat in a sandy loam soil. Weed Res 15:189–194
Funderburk HH, Bozarth GA (1967) Review of the metabolism and decomposition of diquat and Paraquat. J Agric Food Chem 15:563–567
Gao J, Maguhn J, Spitzauer P, Kettrup A (1998) Sorption of pesticides in the sediment of the Teufelsweiher pond (Southern Germany). I: Equilibrium assessments, effect of organic carbon content and pH. Water Res 32(5):1662–1672
Gaultier, G (2004) Recharge et paléorecharge d’une nappe libre en milieu sahélien (Niger oriental): Approches géochimique et hydrodynamique. PhD thesis, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Paris-Sud, Orsay, France
Gavaud M (1977) Les grands traits de la pédogenèse au Niger méridional. Travaux et documents de l’ORSTOM 76, French
Gevao B, Semple KT, Jones KC (2000) Bound pesticide residues in soils: a review. Environ Pollut 108:3–14
Gonzalez-Pradas E, Villafranca-Sanchez M, Del Rey-Bueno F, Urena-Amate MD, Fernandez-Perez M (2000) Removal of Paraquat and atrazine from water by montmorillonite-(Ce or Zr) phosphate cross-linked compounds. Pest Manag Sci 56:565–570
Guengant JP, Banoin M. (2003) Dynamique des populations, disponibilités en terre et adaptation des régimes fonciers: Le Niger. [Online] FAO/CICRED. 144 pp
Hans PL, Willems KJ, Lewis JS, Dyson J, Lewis FJ (1996) Mineralization of 2,4-D and atrazine in the unsatured zone of a sandy loam soil. Soil Biol Biochem 28(8):989–996
Hertzman C, Wiens M, Bowering D, Snow B, Calne D (1990) Parkinson’s disease: a case–control study of occupational and environmental risk factors. Am J Ind Med 17:349–355
Holtzapffel T (1985) Les minéraux argileux. Préparation Analyse diffractométrique et détermination. B Soc Geol Nord 12:1–136
Iglesias A, López R, Gondar D, Antelo J, Fiol S, Arce F (2009) Effect of pH and ionic strength on the binding of Paraquat and MCPA by soil fulvic and humic acids. Chemosphere 76:107–113
Imay Y, Kuwatsuka S (1989) Characteristics of Paraquat degrading microbes. J Pestic Sci 14:475–480
Juo ASR, Oginni OO (1978) Adsorption and desorption of Paraquat in acid tropical soils. J Env Qual 7:9–12
Kah M, Brown CD (2006) Adsorption of ionisable pesticides in soils. Rev Environ Contam T 188:149–217
Khan SU (1974) Determination of diquat and Paraquat residues in soil by gas chromatography. J Agr Food Chem 22:863–867
Knight BA, Tomlinson TE (1967) The interaction of paraquat (1:1′-dimethyl 4:4′-dipyridylium dichloride) with mineral soils. J Soil Sci 18:223–243
Koh D, Jeyaratnam J (1996) Pesticide hazards in developing countries. Sci Total Environ 188(1):S78–S85
Kumar M, Philip L (2006) Adsorption and desorption characteristics of hydrophobic pesticide endosulfan in four Indian soils. Chemosphere 62:1064–1077
Lafargue E, Marquis F, Pillot D (1998) Rock-Eval 6 applications in hydrocarbon exploration, production, and soil contamination studies. Rev I Fr Petrol 53(4):421–437
Lanaro R, Luiz Costa J, Fernandes L, Ribeiro Resende R, Tavares M (2011) Detection of paraquat in oral fluid, plasma, and urine by capillary electrophoresis for diagnostics of acute poisoning. J Anal Toxicol 35:274–279
Le Coz M (2010) Modélisation hydrogéologique de dépôts hétérogènes : l’alluvium de la Komadougou Yobé (bassin du lac Tchad, sud-est nigérien). PhD thesis, Montpellier 2 University, France
Leboulanger C, Bouvy M, Pagano M, Dufour RA, Got P, Cecchi P (2009) Responses of planktonic microorganisms from tropical reservoirs to Paraquat and deltamethrin exposure. Arch Environ Con Tox 56:39–51
Lee KS, Kwon JW (2003) Evaluation and effective extraction method of paraquat residue of soil in Korea. In Environmental Fate and Effecs of Pesticides, ACS Symposium Serie; 853
Liou HH, Tsai MC, Chen CJ, Jeng JS, Chang YC, Chen SY (1997) Environmental risk factors and Parkinson’s disease: a case control study in Taiwan. Neurology 48:1583–1591
Luxereau A, Genthon P, Ambouta-Karimou JM (2012) Fluctuations in the size of Lake Chad: consequences on the livelihoods of the riverain peoples in eastern Niger. Reg Environ Chang. doi:10.1007/s10113-011-0267-0
Madeley J (2002) Paraquat-Syngenta's controversial herbicide. Berne Declaration, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, PAN UK, Asia Pacific, Foro Emaús Editor
Maqueda C, Morillo E, Rodriguez JLP (1989) Interactions in aqueous solution of certain pesticides with fulvic acids from a Spodosol. Soil Sci 148:333–356
Martinsson J (2010) Changes in the course of the river Komadugu Yobe, bordering Niger and Nigeria, during the 20th century. Lund University, Sweden, Master’s thesis, 64 pp
Ministère du développement agricole (2008) Programme d'action communautaire (PAC) Phase II. doc. n°E1881, cellule de coordination nationale, Republic of Niger. French
Neumeister L, Isenring R (2011) Paraquat: unacceptable health risks for users. 3rd Edition, Berne Declaration, PAN Asia and the Pacific
Niel H, Leduc C, Dieulin C (2005) Spatial and temporal variability of annual rainfall in the Lake Chad basin during the XXth century. Hydrolog Sci J 50(2):223–243
Ntow WJ (2001) Organochlorine pesticides in water, sediment, crops and human fluids in a farming community in Ghana. Arch Environ Con Tox 40:557–563
Ouyang Y, Mansell RS, Nkedi-Kizza P (2004) Displacement of Paraquat solution through a saturated soil column with contrasting organic matter content. B Environ Contam Tox 73:725–731
Panuwet P, Prapamontol T, Chantara S, Thavornyuthikarn P, Montesano MA, Jr W (2008) Concentration of urinary pesticide metabolites in small-scale farmers in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Sci Total Environ 407:655–668
Parvez S, Raismuddin S (2006) Effects of Paraquat on the freshwater fish Channa punctata (Bloch): non-enzymatic antioxidants as biomarkers of exposure. Arch Environ Con Tox 50:392–397
Pateiro-Moure M, Arias-Estévez M, López-Periago E, Martínez-Carballo E, Simal-Gándara J (2008a) Occurrence and downslope mobilization of quaternary herbicide residues un vineyard-devoted soils. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 80:407–411
Pateiro-Moure M, Martínez-Carballo E, Arias-Estévez M, Simal-Gándara J (2008b) Determination of quaternary ammonium herbicides in soils. Comparison of digestion, shaking and microwave assisted extractions. J Chrom A 1196–1197:110–116
Pateiro-Moure M, Bermúdez-Couso A, Fernández-Calviño D, Arias-Estévez M, Rial-Otero R, Simal-Gándara J (2010) Paraquat and diquat sorption on iron oxide coated quartz particles and the effect of phosphates. J Chem Eng Data 5(8):2668–2672
Polyrakis IT (2009) Environmental pollution from pesticides. In: Costa R, Kristbergsson K (eds) Predictive modeling and risk assessment. Springer, Berlin, pp 201–224
Raina S, Kumar V, Kaushal SS, Gupta D (2008) Two cases of Paraquat poisoning from Himachal Pradesh. J Indian Acad Clin Med 9:130–132
Ricketts DC (1999) The microbial biodegradation of Paraquat in soil. Pestic Sci 55:596–614
Roberts TR, Dyson JS, Lane MCG (2002) Deactivation of the biological activity of Paraquat in the soil environment: a review of long-term environmental fate. J Agr Food Chem 50:3623–3631
Sahid I, Hamzah A, Aris P (1992) Effects of Paraquat and Alachlor on soil microorganisms in peat soil. Pertanika 15:121–125
Senesi N (1992) Binding mechanisms of pesticides to soil humic substances. Sci Total Environ 123:63–76
Senesi N, Loffredo E (2009) The role of soil organic matter in limiting organic pollution in soils with focus on endocrine disruptor compounds. In: Bahadir AM, Duca G (eds) The role of ecological chemistry in Pollution research and sustainable development. Springer, Berlin, pp 165–174
Shneider S (2010) Estimation des paramètres hydrodynamiques des sols à partir d’une modélisation inverse de données d’infiltration et de résistivité électrique. PhD thesis, University of Paris Sud, 146 pp, France
Slade P (1965) Photochemical degradation of Paraquat. Nature 207:515–516
Slade P (1966) The fate of Paraquat applied to plants. Weed Res 6:158–167
Smith JG (1988) Paraquat poisoning by skin absorption: a review. Hum Toxicol 7:15–24
Smith EA, Mayfield CI (1977) Effects of Paraquat on selected microbial activities in soil. Microb Ecol 3:333–343
Sogetha (1962) Etudes pédologiques dans la vallée de la Komadougou. Ministry of rural economy of the Niger republic. Technical report 1962: Paris, 80 pp., French
Spark K, Swift R (2002) Effect of soil composition and dissolved organic matter on pesticide sorption. Sci Total Environ 298(1–3):147–161
University of Hertfordshire (2014) The Pesticide Properties DataBase (PPDB) developed by the Agriculture & Environment Research Unit (AERU), University of Hertfordshire, 2006–2014
Vinten AJA, Yaron B, Bye PH (1983) Vertical transport of pesticides into soil when adsorbed on suspended particles. J Agr Food Chem 31:662–664
Waleij A, Edlund C, Holmberg M, Lesko B, Liljedahl B, Lindblad A (2004) SUDAN environmental and health risks to personnel to be deployed to Sudan, Pre-deployment assessment. FOI Swedish Defence Research Agency, NBC Defence, SE-901 82 Umeå, Stockholm
Weber JB (1966) Availability of a cationic herbicide adsorbed on clay minerals to cucumber seedlings. Science 152:1400–1402
Weber JB, Weed SB (1968) Adsorption and desorption of diquat, Paraquat and prometone by montmorillonite and kaolinite clay minerals. Soil Sci Soc Am Pro 32:485–487
Wibawa W, Mohamad RB, Puteh AB, Omar D, Juraimi AS, Abdullah SA (2009) Residual phytotoxicity effects of Paraquat, glyphosate and glufosinate-ammonium herbicides in soils from field-treated plots. Int J Agric Biol 11:214–216
Zairi R (2008) Etude géochimique et hydrodynamique de la nappe libre du bassin du lac Tchad dans les régions de Diffa (Niger oriental) et du Bornou (nord-est du Nigeria). PhD thesis, University of Montpellier 2, 191 pp, France
Acknowledgments
This work was funded both by the French Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) and by the Water Agency of Seine Normandy (Agence de l'Eau Seine Normandie, Rouen, France). The Regional Direction of Hydraulics (DRH Diffa) and the N’Gada microcredit organization in Diffa are warmly thanked for their help in listing practices and/or chemical products in use for cultivation in SE Niger. We also warmly acknowledge the help of local farmers of the village of Boulanguri for allowing access to field sites. Steve Anderson (KARKARA NGO, Diffa, Niger) is also thanked for his detailed comments on the manuscript and Marie Vaccaro (University of Rouen) for her technical assistance. We are grateful to Dr. Bridget R. Scanlon (University of Texas at Austin) for her editorial assistance.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
SM 1
Pesticides used by smallholder farmers in the downstream part of the Komadugu Yobé 1 River, SE Niger (DOCX 20 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Crampon, M., Copard, Y., Favreau, G. et al. Occurrence of 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium (Paraquat) in irrigated soil of the Lake Chad Basin, Niger. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 10601–10613 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3064-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3064-8