Pesticide Diversity and Residues in Potato and Potato Products and Consumer Exposure in Kenya

Abstract

Consumption rate of potato products is increasing in the midst of consumer concerns about food safety and rising cases of illnesses which have been blamed on pesticide use. Ingesting food items with pesticide residues have been linked to human ill-health such as headache, nausea, abdominal pain, difficulty in breathing, to chronic illnesses like cancer related illness, damage to immune and reproductive system and endocrine disruption. This research sought to establish pesticide used in potato production in the area of study and the health implications to consumers of potato products. A cross-sectional survey was carried out to establish pesticide use in potato production in Bomet County, using semi-structured questionnaire randomly administered to 305 potato farmers, attained by Corchran’s formula. Data on gender, education, age, type of pesticides applied, pesticides classification and knowledge about pesticide residues was collected and analyzed using SPSS version 21. A study to assess human exposure to pesticide residues through consumption of potato products sold in selected markets within Nairobi County was done. A structured questionnaire using twenty-four-hour recall tool, was administered randomly to 410 participants, attained by Corchran’s formula. Data collected included consumption rates, and association of factors that affect consumption. Pesticide residue analysis was done using quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, safe (QuEChERS) with gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GCMSMS). Exposure to pesticide risks was achieved by calculation of estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotients (HQ) and indices (HI). Sensitivity analysis was also done between consumption rates, concentration of residues and body weight to risk of exposure. Lastly a controlled experiment to assess buildup of pesticide residues in three potato varieties ‘Shangi’, ‘Tigoni’ and Dutch Robyjn’ produced under good agricultural practices (GAPs) was done followed by pesticide residues analysis’ using QuEChERS with GCMSMS...