Pollution of Lake Bosomtwe is a major concern in Ghana due to its derived socio-economic benefits such as employment, ecotourism and major protein source to the people in the basin. Besides these benefits, the lake water is used for domestic purposes and has since served as the drinking water source to the people. However, the use of agrochemicals within the basin has intensified within the last decade. The problems associated with fertilizer and pesticide use in the Bosomtwe basin seem to carry with it a higher price, which, if not identified and checked, will overshadow the desired benefits of the lake. This study assesses pesticide and nutrient loads of Lake Bosomtwe in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Fifty-four (54) lake water samples were collected from September 2016 to February 2017. Pesticide samples were extracted using the solid phase extraction method and GCMS to identify the pesticides present in the water samples and determine their loads. The data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Product Service Solutions (SPSS version 20) for descriptive statistics. The concentration of dichlorvos was a bit lower when compared with the WHO/USEPA guidelines of 5 ppb for surface water. Diazinon had a mean concentration of 0.28 ± 0.03 ppb which was higher than the WHO 0.05 ppb and USEPA 0.04 ppb for surface water bodies. The detection of diazinon confirms the findings from the field survey, which revealed that diazinon, is an active ingredient of a pesticide with a trade name “Akate suro”, which was extensively used by cocoa farmers along the banks of the lake. The mean concentration recorded for nitrate and phosphate were 0.15 ± 0.05 mg/L and 0.40 ± 0.12 mg/L respectively. The pesticides application inventory and implications of pesticide and nutrient loads on the lake are discussed in the paper.
References
[1]
ILEC (International Lake Environment Committee Foundation) (2007) Integrated Lake Basin Management: An Introduction. International Lake Environment Committee Foundation, Kusatsu.
[2]
Adu-Boahen, K., Emmanuel, M.A., Kwaku, K.K. and Osman, A. (2014) Socio-Economic Impact of Lake Bosomtwe Shoreline Changes on Catchment Residents in Ghana. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 674, 1-7.
[3]
Oerke, E.C. and Dehne, H.W. (2004) Safeguarding Production Losses in Major Crops and the Role of Crop Protection. Crop Protection, 23, 275-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2003.10.001
[4]
Cooper, J. and Dobson, H. (2007) The Benefits of Pesticides to Mankind and the Environment. Crop Protection, 26, 1337-1348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2007.03.022
[5]
Bürger, J., de Mol, F. and Gerowitt, B. (2008) The “Necessary Extent” of Pesticide Use. Thoughts about a Key Term in German Pesticide Policy. Crop Protection, 27, 343-351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2007.06.006
[6]
Essumang, D.K., Togoh, G.K. and Chokky, L. (2009) Pesticide Residues in the Water and Fish (Lagoon tilapia) Samples from Lagoons in Ghana. Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Ethiopia, 23, 19-27. https://doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v23i1.21294
[7]
McDowell, R.W. and Hamilton, D.P. (2013) Nutrients and Eutrophication: Introduction. Marine and Freshwater Research, 64, iii-vi. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF13059
[8]
Mariyono, J. (2008) Direct and Indirect Impacts of Integrated Pest Management on Pesticide Use: A Case of Rice Agriculture in Java, Indonesia. Pest Management Science, 64, 1069-1073. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.1602
[9]
Abreu, A.D, Salinas, A.H. and Clusener-Godt, M. (2016) Sustainable Management of the Lake Bosomtwe in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Place de Fontenoy, Paris.
[10]
American Public Health Association (APHA) (1998) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 20th Edition, American Public Health Association, Washington DC.
[11]
Afful, S., Awudza, J.A.M., Osae, S. and Twumasi, S.K. (2013) Assessment of Synthetic Pyrethroids Residues in the Waters and Sediments from the Weija Lake in Ghana. European Chemical Bulletin, 2, 183-187.
[12]
Frimpong, K.S., Yeboah, P., Fletcher, J.J., Adomako, D., Osei-fosu, P. and Acheampong, K. (2012) Organochlorine Pesticides Levels in Fermented Dried Cocoa Beans Produced in Ghana. Elixir Agriculture, 44, 7280-7284.
[13]
Wireko, A. (2015) Impacts of Land Use/Cover Change on Water Quality in Lake Bosomtwe Basin of Ghana. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Ghana, Accra.
[14]
Varó, I., Navarro, J.C., Amat, F. and Guilhermino, L. (2003) Effect of Dichlorvos on Cholinesterase Activity of the European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 75, 61-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-3575(03)00019-1
[15]
Hasan, S.S., Ghosh, M.K., Arefin, M.S. and Sultana, S. (2016) Farmers’ Attitude towards Using Agro-Chemicals in Rice Production: A Case in Laxmipur District of Bangladesh. The Agriculturists, 13, 105-112. https://doi.org/10.3329/agric.v13i2.26599
[16]
Okoffo, E.D. (2015) Pesticide Use and Pesticide Residues in the Drinking Water, Soil and Cocoa Beans in the Dormaa West District of Ghana. Unpublished MPhil. Thesis, University of Ghana, Accra.
[17]
Isin, S. and Yildirim, I. (2007) Fruit-Growers’ Perceptions on the Harmful Effects of Pesticides and Their Reflection on Practices: The Case of Kemalpasa, Turkey. Crop Protection, 26, 917-922. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2006.08.006
[18]
Ajayi, O.C. and Akinnifesi, F.K. (2007) Farmers Understanding of Pesticide Safety Labels and Field Spraying Practices: A Case Study of Cotton Farmers in Northern Cte dIvoire. Scientific Research and Essays, 2, 204-210.
[19]
Abowei, J.F.N., Davies O.A. and Eli, A. (2010) Physico-Chemistry, Morphology and Abundance of Fin Fish of Nkoro River, Niger Delta, Nigeria. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Bio-Physiology, 1, 1-13.
[20]
Rauh, V.A., Garcia, W.E., Whyatt, R.M., Horton, M.K., Barr, D.B. and Louis, E.D. (2015) Prenatal Exposure to the Organophosphate Pesticide Chlorpyrifos and Childhood Tremor. Neurotoxicology, 51, 80-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2015.09.004
[21]
Quintana, P.J., Delfino, R.J., Korrick, S., Ziogas, A., Kutz, F.W., Jones, E.L. and Garshick, E. (2004) Adipose Tissue Levels of Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Risk of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112, 854-861. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.6726
[22]
Clottey, M.N.K., Asmah, R., Ofori-Danson, P.K., Ameworwor, M.Y. and Karikari, A.Y. (2016) Impacts of Cage Culture on Physico-Chemical and Bacteriological Water Quality in Lake Volta, Ghana. African Journal of Aquatic Science, 41, 473-480. https://doi.org/10.2989/16085914.2016.1255587
[23]
Agwa, A., Leheta, H., Salem, A. and Sadiq, R. (2013) Fate of Drilling Waste Discharges and Ecological Risk Assessment in the Egyptian Red Sea: An Aquivalence-Based Fuzzy Analysis. Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment, 27, 169-181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-012-0574-0
[24]
Maghanga, J.K., Kituyi, J.L., Kisinyo, P.O. and Ng’etich, W.K. (2013) Impact of Nitrogen Fertilizer Applications on surface Water Nitrate Levels within a Kenyan Tea Plantation. Journal of Chemistry, 2013, Article ID: 196516. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/196516
[25]
Hecnar, S.J. (1995) Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer to Amphibians from Southern Ontario. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 14, 2131-2137. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620141217 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa
[26]
Turner, B.F., Gardner, L.R. and Sharp, W.E. (1996) The Hydrology of Lake Bosomtwe a Climate-Sensitive Lake in Ghana, West Africa. Journal of Hydrology, 183, 243-261. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(95)02982-6
[27]
Muller, D.K. and Helsel, D.R. (1999) Nutrients in the Nation’s Water—Too Much of Good Thing? Circular 1136. US Geological Survey, Denver.
[28]
Karikari, A.Y. and Ansa-Asare, O.D. (2006) Physico-Chemical and Microbial Water Quality Assessment of Densu River of Ghana. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 10, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.4314/wajae.v10i1.45701
[29]
Bukola, D., Zaid, A., Olalekan, E.I. and Falilu, A. (2015) Consequences of Anthropogenic Activities on Fish and the Aquatic Environment. Poultry, Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences, 3, Article No. 138. https://doi.org/10.4172/2375-446X.1000138
[30]
Boyd, C.E. (1979) Water Quality in Warm Water Fish Ponds. Auburn University, Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn.
[31]
Bouwer, H. (2002) Integrated Water Management for the 21st Century: Problems and Solutions. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 128, 193-202. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9437(2002)128:4(193)
[32]
Malik, S.J. (1998) Rural Poverty and Land Degradation: What Does the Available Literature Suggest for Priority Setting for the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research: A Report. Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), Washington DC.
[33]
Scherr, S.J. (2000) A Downward Spiral? Research Evidence on the Relationship between Poverty and Natural Resource Degradation. Food Policy, 25, 479-498. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0306-9192(00)00022-1
[34]
Wunder, S. (2001) Poverty Alleviation and Tropical Forests—What Scope for Synergies? World Development, 29, 1817-1833. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(01)00070-5
[35]
Leonard, S.D. and Wogalter, M.S. (2000) What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: Household Products and Events. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 32, 383-388. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-4575(99)00072-X
[36]
Banda, S.F. and Sichilongo, K. (2006) Analysis of the Level of Comprehension of Chemical Hazard Labels: A Case for Zambia. Science of the Total Environment, 363, 22-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.10.011
[37]
Damalas, C.A., Theodorou, M.G. and Georgiou, E.B. (2006) Attitudes towards Pesticide Labeling among Greek Tobacco Farmers. International Journal of Pest Management, 52, 269-274. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670870600792101
[38]
Damalas, C.A. and Eleftherohorinos, I.G. (2011) Pesticide Exposure, Safety Issues, and Risk Assessment Indicators. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8, 1402-1419. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph8051402
[39]
Damalas, C.A. (2009) Understanding Benefits and Risks of Pesticide Use. Scientific Research and Essays, 4, 945-949.
