Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Vegetables Commonly Consumed in The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Inadequate Agricultural Practices and Potential Impacts for Public Health

Abstract

Pesticides residues in food pose a serious risk to children and adults consuming pesticide-contaminated food. The aim of present study was to assess pesticide residues in vegetables in the Kinshasa and Lubumbashi cities of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The levels of three pesticide residues were determined by gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detector (ECD) or mass spectrometer-time of flight detector (GC–ECD or GC-MS-TOF) in 96 samples of four vegetables amaranth, spinach, sorrel and sweet potato-leaves purchased from wholesale markets. The Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane with its metabolites (3-DDTs), endosulfan and malathion residues were found in 100% of the vegetable samples from Lubumbashi and in 62.5% to 87.5% of all vegetable samples from Kinshasa. Risks were mainly associated with the residues of DDTs pesticides in vegetables. The HQ and HI estimations revealed a serious potential risk to consumers, children particularly. Due to multiple pesticide residues exceeding the MRLs for single residue levels, the consumers are exposed to pesticides, heavily in Lubumbashi. Due to increasing trend in pesticide use, continuous monitoring of pesticide residues in vegetables and other food is recommended in order to develop the base line data on which pesticide regulations could be enhanced in DRC.