Mancozeb Residue on Tomatoes in Central Uganda
Background. Mancozeb belongs to a group of pesticides known as dithiocarbamates (DTC) that are a non-systemic group of pesticides extensively used in Uganda to protect crops from fungal diseases. Objectives. This study was done in 5 selected districts of Central Uganda with a focus on markets and fa...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pure Earth
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health and Pollution |
| Subjects: |
| Summary: | Background. Mancozeb belongs to a group of pesticides known as dithiocarbamates (DTC) that are a non-systemic group of pesticides extensively used in Uganda to protect crops from fungal diseases.
Objectives. This study was done in 5 selected districts of Central Uganda with a focus on markets and farms to investigate the current mancozeb concentrations on tomatoes and identify key areas of improvement to minimize human exposure.
Methods. Tomato samples were analyzed for mancozeb residue determined as carbon disulfide (CS2) by gas chromatography—mass spectrometer (GC-MS).
Results. All the samples analyzed had detectable concentrations of mancozeb residue. It was observed that farm samples had mean concentrations of 1.03±0.28 mg/kg, while market samples had 0.77±0.49 mg/kg. The study also found that farmers applied 3–6 times the dosage of mancozeb recommended by manufacturers. Furthermore, the observed pre-harvest interval after application of mancozeb was 1–2 days as opposed to 3–7 days set by manufacturers.
Conclusions. The observed practices at farms are likely to put farmers and final consumers at a risk of exposure to dithiocarbamates.
Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests. |
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| ISSN: | 2156-9614 2156-9614 |