two research articles on pesticides in cambodia 2011 02 28 vs 07 2011
DESCRIPTION
Brief discussion of the implication of two articles concerning pesticide use in vegetable production in Cambodia and effects on pesticide resiues in market vegetables.TRANSCRIPT
2 Research Articles on Pesticide Related Issues in
CambodiaYearend 2010/2011
Winfried Scheewe/COrAA - PRN Meeting 28/02/2011
1. Pesticide Use and Self-Reported Symptoms of Acute Pesticide Poisoning among Aquatic Farmers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia by Hanne K. Jensen et al.
2. Prevalence and Persistence of Organophosphate and Carbamate Pesticides in Cambodian Market Vegetables by D.S.G. Neufeld et al.
Pesticide Use among Aquatic Farmers
Phnom Penh Post, 11 January 2011
Some Findings
Frequent use of the most toxic insecticides based on the WHO classification • Ia + Ib which are, respectively,
extremely and highly hazardous and
• Class II which are moderately hazardous
• Both classes are banned or have restricted use in Cambodia
Insecticides used by 93 households in Boeung Cheung Ek Lake
Personal protective measures adapted by 89 farmers inrelation to spraying pesticides in Boeung Cheung EK Lake
Some Findings (2)
Pesticides Residues in Vegetables Research Article:
Prevalence and Persistence of Organophosphate and Carbamate Pesticides in Cambodian Market Vegetables
D.S.G. Neufeld*, H. Savoeun1, C. Phoeurk1, A. Glick2 and C. Hernandez3Department of Biology, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA1Department of Chemistry, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia2Department of Chemistry, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA3Department of Chemistry, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, New York, USA
Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 89-98.
Probably the first research article on Pesticide residues in Cambodian Market Vegetables
Carbamate insecticides
• kill insects by reversibly inactivating the enzyme acetylcholinesterase.
• They are relatively unstable compounds that break down in the environment within weeks or months.
Organophosphates
Examples• Insecticides including
malathion, parathion, diazinon, fenthion, dichlorvos, chlorpyrifos, ethion
• Herbicides including tribufos [DEF]
One of the products of the reaction of Fc2P2S4 with dimethyl cyanamide
Concerns of the Study
• Widespread use of pesticides on vegetable crops
• Likely that vegetables sold in Cambodian markets could contain pesticide residues …
• … but very little information available on actual levels of pesticides
• Pesticide measurements generally require special skills and equipment
• Cambodia has lacked the capacity to conduct regular monitoring
critical information on the prevalence of pesticide residues is lacking
Concerns of the Study
Second round:screening test indi-cated presence of pesticide residue– in 88% of curly-leafed
kale, – 95% of white-
stemmed kale– and 93% of Chinese
broccoli samples
Results of the study
Long bean shows the fewest responses for pesticides residue, with no samples showing unsafe levels
Two rounds of screening indicate that 1. Consumers are
regularly exposed to pesticide residues in local vegetables
2. Significant variation in levels of pesticide residues
Results of the study
• Farm Trials for OP/C Sprayed on Water Spinach confirm a clear trend in methyl parathion disappearance
Results of the study
• Pesticide residues are widespread in market vegetables
• Consumers are likely exposed to these pesticide residues, although the
• Screening tests used in this study do not indicate the level of health risk associated with the residues in market vegetables
Conclusion (1)
• Need to consider both toxicity and persistence in assessing the impacts associated with residues on vegetables
Conclusion (2)
• Contexts: lower resources and capacity
• Screening of vegetable samples with simpler test methods (such as the cholinesterase inhibition assay) coupled with targeted analysis of samples of concern can …
• … provide information about prevalence and magnitude of residues, at a lower investment of resources and time
Conclusion (3)
Appropriate pesticide monitoring strategy
Effects• Exposure to
organophosphates chronic fatigue symptoms
• A 2010 study: Organophosphate exposure is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease
• Organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos, (used on fruits and vegetables) delays in learning rates, reduced physical coordination, and behavioral problems in children
Recent Findings on Effects
Effects
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
A 2010 study:organophosphate exposure is associated with an increased risk of ADHD in children.
organophosphate residues in the urine of children aged 8 to 15 years old:those with the highest levels of dialkyl phosphates – a breakdown product of organo-phosphate pesticides - also had the highest incidence of ADHD
Recent Findings on Effects
Recent Findings on Effects
Scientists from University of London’s Centre for Toxicology found:30 out of 37 pesticides blocked or mimicked male hormones, including 16 that had no known hormonal activity until now.