Pesticide residues found in water and soil in Mali

Over the past decades, pesticide usage has greatly increased worldwide, specifically in developing countries. In a recent study undergone by the Integrated Pest Management/Collaborative Research Support Program (IPM/CRSP), in four different regions in Mali, a certain percentage of pesticide residues from DDT and its major components have been detected in different water sources and soils among Malian cotton crops. These tests have been executed on different foreign cotton crops ranging from newer locations (Kita), to intermediate cotton growing regions (San, Sikasso) , to older cotton growing areas (Koutiala) in Mali. Levels of the pesticides are below quantification limits for the most part, but scientists are worried about the long term effects of these products on human populations, livestock and living organisms in the area. It is unknown what impacts the pesticides used could have on the environment, and what is now the sustainability of these fields. The study by Professors Safiatou Berthe Dem, Toxicology and Environmental Quality Laboratory, Jean M. Cobb, Virginia Tech, and Donald E. Mullins, Virginia Tech, presents the results of pesticides on the surrounding environment.

Pesticides such as DDT and its breakdown products are some of the most harmful chemicals to human health and can lead to chronic health problems. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the impact of pesticides on this region and its inhabitants. According to the researchers, the increased use of pesticides has caused pollution of soils and water worldwide. In order to extract results, three different techniques were utilized: testing the soils, analysing the water sources from nearby villages, and performing a survey questioning local farmers about their pesticide usage techniques. The question the researchers were trying to answer was “whether pesticide residues levels in the soil and water could be linked to farmer practices as well as the time of cotton establishment as a major cultivated crop in these areas.”

Soil sampling

A total of 60 soil samples were collected (4 areas x 3 villages x 5 samples per village = 60). A direct liaison with the time of establishment of the cotton crop and the quantity of pesticides in the area are directly linked. The researchers indicate that pesticides can enter water resources during rainfall, contributing to the risk of environmental contamination.

Water sampling

Eight water samples in total were collected, six from field wells and two from surface waters of the Niger River at the Kouoro Dam and Bani Bridge. These contaminant levels were compared to the highest level of contaminants that can be found in US drinking water. Although most of the samples collected did not exceed these levels, contaminants such as DDT have been found in tap water in Bamako, the capital city of Mali. We must question ourselves on the health risks involved with ingesting such chemicals, as populace around the world are forced to.

Farmer surveys

Twenty-four farmers in the study area were surveyed to obtain information on their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding pesticide usage in their fields during the past ten years. A serious problem in pesticide practices and applications was detected when surveying the farmers; many admitted to inadequately following the procedures of application of these dangerous chemicals. Although it is much more practical for farmers around the world to use pesticides there are also drawbacks, such as potential toxicity to humans, other animals and living organisms.

This clearly indicates that pesticides are harmful to the area and have long term consequences on the living organism’s health in the environment. To the surprise of many, concentration levels of pesticides such as DDT and its components are detected in a lower quantity than expected. Crops are contaminated but not as much as anticipated. However, this does not indicate grand results for the nearby future. The contamination of these sites still alarms researchers in this domain as humans and animals are in close proximity to these contaminants. Further research must be completed in this area in order to determine the long term effects of pesticide use on living organisms, animals and humans living in these regions. For the purpose of making pesticide usage less harmful, local farmers should be provided with better education programs that provide them with the required information on the potential effects of the chemicals they are using on the surrounding environment.

These products are not only impacting the local farmers using them, but also the entire populations (biotic or abiotic) surrounding them. Also, when analysing the long term effects, the populace must be aware of the environmental impacts of these chemicals and discover a method to make cotton farming more sustainable for developing countries worldwide. If evolution in pesticide usage is not practiced in the upcoming decade, crops will become unsalvageable and the regions around the world will be devastated by the affects of insecticides.

References:

Dem, Safiatou Berthe, Jean M. Cobb, and Donald E. Mullins. "Journal of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences." Pesticide Residues in Soil and Water from Four Cotton Growing Areas of Mali, West Africa 1.1 (2007): 1-17. Web. 7th Oct 2010.

Hewick, J. "Pesticides." Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Cape, 2000. Web. 11 Oct 2010. .