HEALTH HAZARDS LINKED TO THE QUALITY OF THE IRRIGATION WATER AND TO THE CONSUMPTION OF THE VEGETABLES GROWN IN THE MARKET GARDENING SITE OF NKOLONDOM, (YAOUNDE - CAMEROON)

  • Vikkey Hinson URESTE/UAC
  • Yvonne Mbaduet Unity of Teaching and Research in Occupational Health and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Health of Cotonou (University of Abomey-Calavi Benin)
  • Rousseau Djouaka AgroEcoHealth Platform, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA),
  • Francis Zeukeng Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé I, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Menonli Adjobimey Unity of Teaching and Research in Occupational Health and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Health of Cotonou (University of Abomey-Calavi Benin)
  • Fabien Gounongbé Département de Médecine et Spécialités Médicales, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Parakou
  • Benjamin Fayomi Unity of Teaching and Research in Occupational Health and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Health of Cotonou (University of Abomey-Calavi Benin)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53555/ar.v4i1.1805
Keywords: Irrigation water, vegetables, heavy metals, fecal coliform, Nkolondom

Abstract

Background: The water used for irrigation contains measurable quantities of dissolved substances which, when accumulated in the soil and crops, have serious consequences on the environment and human health. This cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out on the Nkolondom vegetables production site in order to assess the health risks related to water used for irrigation and thus, improve on the quality of vegetables and the health of consumers.

Methods: Thirty structured questionnaires were administered to vegetable producers. Water used for irrigation and the main vegetables produced were carefully collected to determine the degree of contamination in toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, Cu) and in microbes or fecal and total coliforms. A new advanced and sensitive approach, the Metalyser Pro HM3000 helped us to quantify the heavy metals.

Results: Vegetable growing in Nkolondom is a basic activity which is characterised using traditional watering cans for irrigation, the non-use of personal protective equipment and the excessive use of inputs and pesticides. Irrigation is done with water from the river et the main crops produced there are lettuce and celery. The irrigation water as well as the vegetables that were analysed contained non-toxic doses of heavy metals which varied as follows:  Cu> Pb> As> Cd. The mean concentrations in fecal coliforms found were not toxic in the water used for irrigation (100 UFC/100 ml) and toxic in the vegetables (2,67 104 UFC/100 g). Vegetables grown in Nkolondom are thus dangerous for consumption and could cause many health issues to vegetable producers.

Conclusion: The health risks are related to the environment, to the irrigation water, to the chemicals used, (pesticides and fertilisers) and to the physical workload. Vegetables producers mostly suffer from water-borne diseases, skin diseases and musculoskeletal disorders.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Temple, L. and P. Moustier, 2004. Les fonctions et contraintes de l’agriculture périurbaine de quelques villes africaines (Yaoundé, Cotonou, Dakar). Cah. Agric., 13:15-27.
2. Allagbé, H., M. Aitchedji and A. Yadouleton, 2014. Genesis and development of urban vegetable farming in Republic of Benin. IJIAS., 7:123-133.
3. Gandonou, E., Agbossou, K., Sintondji, L., 2007. Etude de la durabilité environnementale et économique des pratiques d'irrigation en agriculture périurbaine et urbaine (APU) à Cotonou et sa périphérie Volet socio-économie. FSA/UAC Bénin, 39p.
4. Lugwisha, E.H. and C.O. Othman, 2014. Levels of Selected Heavy Metals in Soil, Tomatoes and Selected Vegetables from Lushoto District-Tanzania. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal.,2:313-319.
5. Mustapha, I.H. and B.O. Adeboye, 2014. Heavy metals accumulation in edible part of vegetables irrigated with untreated municipal wastewater in tropical savannah zone, Nigeria. Afr. J. Environ. Sci. Technol., 8:460-463.
6. Khan, K., Y. Lu, H. Khan, M. Ishtiaq, S. Khan, M. Waqas, L. Wei and T. Wang, 2013. Heavy metals in agricultural soils and crops and their health risks in Swat District, northern Pakistan. Food. Chem. Toxicol.,58:449–458.
7. Lawal, A.O. and A.A. Audu, 2011. Analysis of heavy metals found in vegetables from some cultivated gardens in the Kano metropolis, Nigeria. J. Environ. Chem. Ecotoxicol.,36:142-148.
8. Kihampa, C., J.S.W. Mwegoha and S.R. Shemdoe, 2011. Heavy metals concentrations in vegetables grown in the vicinity of the closed dumpsite. Int. J. Environ. Sci., 2:889-895.
9. Temple, L., S. Marquis and S. Simon, 2008. Le maraîchage périurbain à Yaoundé est­il un système de production localisé innovant ? Economies et Sociétés, Agroalimentaire., 30:2309­2328.
10. Chary, N.S., C.T. Kamala and D.S.S. Raj, 2008. Assessing risk of heavy metals from consuming food grown on sewage irrigated soils and food chain transfer. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf., 69:513–524.
11. Koumoloua, L., P. Edorha, S. Montchoa, K. Aklikokoub, F. Lokoc, M. Bokod and E.E. Creppye, 2013. Health-risk market garden production linked to heavy metals in irrigation water in Benin. Compt. Rend. Biol. 336:278-83.
12. Maleki Afshin, Hassan Amini, Shahrokh Nazmara, Shiva Zandi and Amir Hossein Mahvi : Spatial distribution of heavy metals in soil, water and vegetables of farms in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Iran Journal of Environmental Health Science & Engineering 2014, 12:136
13. Rompré, A., P. Servais, J. Baudart, deR. Marie-Rene and P. Laurent, 2002. Detection and enumeration of coliforms in drinking water: current methods and emerging approaches. J. Microbiol. Meth., 49: 31–54.
14. United Nations Fund for Population (UNFP), 1994. Human development world report. Economica, Paris, 239 p.
15. Rousseau Djouaka1, Francis Zeukeng, Murielle Farrelle Eurydice Soglo, Razack Adeoti, Omolacho Merdie Zinsou Ahoukpo, Taïra Sarah Tamou-Tabe et al. Heavy metal contamination and faecal coliforms in peri-urban market gardening sites in Benin and Cameroon ; International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research (2016) Volume:02, Issue:05
16. Keraita, B., P. Drechsel and F. Konradsen, 2008. Using on farm sedimentation ponds to improve microbial quality of irrigation water in urban vegetable farming in Ghana. Wat. Sci. Tech.,57:519-525.
17. Kuitcha, D., K.B.V. Kamgang, N.L. Sigha, G. Lienou and G.E. Ekodeck, 2008. Water supply, sanitation and health risks in Yaounde, Cameroon. Afr. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.,2:379-386.
18. Gemmell, E.M. and S. Schmidt, 2010. Potential links between irrigation water quality and microbiological quality of food in subsistence farming in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Current Research, Technology and Education Topics in Applied Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, A. Mendèz-Vilas (Ed.), p1190-1195.
19. Akrong, O.M., A.J. Ampofo and A.K.S. Danso, 2012. The Quality and Health Implications of Urban Irrigation Water Used for Vegetable Production in the Accra Metropolis. J. Environ. Prot., 3:1509-1518.
20. Defo, C., K.P.B. Yerima, K.M.I. Noumsi and N. Bemmo, 2015. Assessment of some heavy metals in soil and groundwater in an urban watershed of Yaoundé (Cameroon-West Africa). Environ. Monit. Assess., 187:DOI 10. 1007/s10661-015-4292-1.
21. Scott, C.A., N.I. Faruqui and S.L. Raschid, 2010. Wastewater use in irrigated agriculture: Confronting the Livelihood and Environmental Realities. CABI Publishing; Wallingford, UK.
22. Atidegla, C.S., K.E. Agbossou, J. Huat and G.R. Kakai, 2011. Contamination métallique des légumes des périmètres maraîchers urbains et péri urbains: Cas de la commune de Gran-Popo au Bénin. Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci., 5:2351-2361.
23. Farooq, M., F. Anwar and U. Rashid, 2008. Appraisal of heavy metal contents in different vegetables grown in the vicinity of an industrial area. Pak. J. Bot., 40:2099-2106
24. Agbossou, K.E., M.S. Sanny, B. Zokpodo, B. Ahamide and H.J. Guedegbe, 2013. Evaluation qualitative de quelques légumes sur le périmètre maraîcher de Houéyiho, à Cotonou au sud-Bénin. BRAB., 42:1-12
25. Tarla, D.N., V.M. Bantar, M.Y.C. Mfopou, D. Fotio and D.A. Fontem, 2015. Determination of Heavy Metal Concentration in Surface Waters of the Western Highlands of Cameroon. . JGEESI., 2: 46-53.
26. Tom, M., T.D. Fletcher and D.T. McCarthy, 2014. Heavy Metal Contamination of Vegetables Irrigated by urban Stormwater: A Matter of Time? PLoS ONE 9:e112441.
27. Islam, Eu., X-e. Yang, Z-l. He and Q. Mahmood, 2007. Assessing potential dietary toxicity of heavy metals in selected vegetables and food crops. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B., 8:1-13.
28. Orisakwe, E.O., K.J. Nduka, N.C. Amadi, O.D. Dike and O. Bede, 2012. Heavy metals health risk assessment for population via consumption of food crops and fruits in Owerri, South Eastern, Nigeria. Chem. Cent. J., 6:2-7.
29. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 2009. Investigation of an outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul infections linked to raw Alfalfa sprouts, Update for May 8, 2009. CDC, Atlanta, GA. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/Salmonella/saintpaul/ (Accessed 14 May 2015).
30. Gillespie, I.A., 2004. Outbreak of Salmonella Newport infection associated with lettuce in the UK. Euro surveillance., 8:2562
31. Turkdogan, M.K., F. Kilicel, K. Kara and I. Tuncer, 2002. Heavy metals in soil, vegetables and fruits in the endemic upper gastrointestinal cancer region of Turkey.Environ. Toxicol. Phar.,13:175-179.
Published
2018-01-31
How to Cite
Hinson, V., Mbaduet, Y., Djouaka, R., Zeukeng, F., Adjobimey, M., Gounongbé, F., & Fayomi, B. (2018). HEALTH HAZARDS LINKED TO THE QUALITY OF THE IRRIGATION WATER AND TO THE CONSUMPTION OF THE VEGETABLES GROWN IN THE MARKET GARDENING SITE OF NKOLONDOM, (YAOUNDE - CAMEROON). IJRDO-Journal of Agriculture and Research (ISSN: 2455-7668), 4(1), 35-52. https://doi.org/10.53555/ar.v4i1.1805
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2018): IJRDO-Journal of Agriculture And Research
Section
Articles

Copyright (c) 2018 IJRDO - Journal of Agriculture and Research (ISSN: 2455-7668)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Author(s) and co-author(s) jointly and severally represent and warrant that the Article is original with the author(s) and does not infringe any copyright or violate any other right of any third parties, and that the Article has not been published elsewhere. Author(s) agree to the terms that the IJRDO Journal will have the full right to remove the published article on any misconduct found in the published article.