Pesticide-Induced Environmental Risks: A field study in Ghana
The aim of the thesis was to review the pesticide law and registration procedure of Ghana and to establish how effective it has been in protecting the environment and users in Ghana using post registration monitoring. Further, the study sought to use models such as PRIMET (Pesticides Risks in the Tropics to Man, Environment, and Trade), SSD (Species
Sensitivity Distribution) and empirical data obtained from the field, to assess the risk of
pesticides and determine the threshold levels protective of ecological communities. The thesis also investigated the effects of these pesticides on abundance and diversity of bacteria populations in the soil environment. Based on this overall aim, the following research objectives were set:
1. To review relevant portions of the Ghanaian pesticide law, the registration procedure, in relation to actors perspective of its implementation to establish whether it has achieved its intended purpose, and indicate adjustments needed for further consideration and improvement;
2. To perform risk assessments using empirical data and models to establish the risks of pesticides to the aquatic and terrestrial environments of agricultural fields according to farmers’ pesticide use regimes in Ghana; and
3. Determine the water quality of water bodies in Ghana using physico-chemical parameters, pesticide concentrations, and biological indicators.
Area of focus: Cocoa
Author(s): Michael Onwona-Kwakye
Organisation/institution: Wageningen University & Research