Pesticide contamination of surface and groundwater in an Ethiopian highlands’ watershed
Agricultural intensification in sub-Saharan African countries has significantly increased pesticide applications. Information on pesticide residues and their transport in groundwater and streams is needed to properly manage and reduce any harm to the ecosystem and environment. This information is la...
| Autores principales: | , , , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
MDPI
2022
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/144118 |
| _version_ | 1855516704846643200 |
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| author | Sishu, F. K. Tilahun, S. A. Schmitter, Petra S. Assefa, G. Steenhuis, T. S. |
| author_browse | Assefa, G. Schmitter, Petra S. Sishu, F. K. Steenhuis, T. S. Tilahun, S. A. |
| author_facet | Sishu, F. K. Tilahun, S. A. Schmitter, Petra S. Assefa, G. Steenhuis, T. S. |
| author_sort | Sishu, F. K. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Agricultural intensification in sub-Saharan African countries has significantly increased pesticide applications. Information on pesticide residues and their transport in groundwater and streams is needed to properly manage and reduce any harm to the ecosystem and environment. This information is lacking in the volcanic soils of Ethiopian highlands. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess pesticide concentrations in ground and surface water and their risk to humans and aquatic life. The 9 km2 rural watershed Robit Bata in the Lake Tana Basin was selected. Crops were grown under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Pesticide use was assessed, and groundwater samples were collected from eight wells and surface water samples at the outlet twice in the rain phase and once in the dry phase. Samples were analyzed for chlorpyrifos, dimethoate, (a and ß) endosulfan, profenofos, NO- 3 , and pH. Chlorpyrifos and endosulfan, which are strongly adsorbed and slowly degrading pesticides, were found in nearly all surface and groundwater samples, with maximum concentrations in surface water of 8 µg L-1 for chlorpyrifos and 3 µg L-1 endosulfan. Maximum groundwater concentrations were only slightly lower. The weakly adsorbed and fast degrading pesticides, dimethoate, and profenofos were detected only in the rain phase after spraying in the groundwater, indicating preferential transport to groundwater at depths of up to 9 m. The average concentration was 0.38 µg L-1 for dimethoate in surface waters and 1.24 µg L-1 in groundwater. Profenofos was not detected in surface water. In the groundwater, the average concentration was 0.05 µg L-1 . Surface water concentrations of chlorpyrifos and endosulfan were highly toxic to fish. The World Health Organization banned these pesticides worldwide. It should be phased out for use in Ethiopia to safeguard the ecological health of Lake Tana, which is rich in biodiversity and endemic fish species. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace144118 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publishDateRange | 2022 |
| publishDateSort | 2022 |
| publisher | MDPI |
| publisherStr | MDPI |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1441182025-12-08T10:29:22Z Pesticide contamination of surface and groundwater in an Ethiopian highlands’ watershed Sishu, F. K. Tilahun, S. A. Schmitter, Petra S. Assefa, G. Steenhuis, T. S. pesticides chemical contamination surface water groundwater water pollution highlands watersheds lakes ecotoxicity aquatic organisms fish human health risk assessment farmers Agricultural intensification in sub-Saharan African countries has significantly increased pesticide applications. Information on pesticide residues and their transport in groundwater and streams is needed to properly manage and reduce any harm to the ecosystem and environment. This information is lacking in the volcanic soils of Ethiopian highlands. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess pesticide concentrations in ground and surface water and their risk to humans and aquatic life. The 9 km2 rural watershed Robit Bata in the Lake Tana Basin was selected. Crops were grown under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Pesticide use was assessed, and groundwater samples were collected from eight wells and surface water samples at the outlet twice in the rain phase and once in the dry phase. Samples were analyzed for chlorpyrifos, dimethoate, (a and ß) endosulfan, profenofos, NO- 3 , and pH. Chlorpyrifos and endosulfan, which are strongly adsorbed and slowly degrading pesticides, were found in nearly all surface and groundwater samples, with maximum concentrations in surface water of 8 µg L-1 for chlorpyrifos and 3 µg L-1 endosulfan. Maximum groundwater concentrations were only slightly lower. The weakly adsorbed and fast degrading pesticides, dimethoate, and profenofos were detected only in the rain phase after spraying in the groundwater, indicating preferential transport to groundwater at depths of up to 9 m. The average concentration was 0.38 µg L-1 for dimethoate in surface waters and 1.24 µg L-1 in groundwater. Profenofos was not detected in surface water. In the groundwater, the average concentration was 0.05 µg L-1 . Surface water concentrations of chlorpyrifos and endosulfan were highly toxic to fish. The World Health Organization banned these pesticides worldwide. It should be phased out for use in Ethiopia to safeguard the ecological health of Lake Tana, which is rich in biodiversity and endemic fish species. 2022-10-29 2024-05-28T09:04:46Z 2024-05-28T09:04:46Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/144118 en Open Access MDPI Sishu, F. K.; Tilahun, S. A.; Schmitter, Petra; Assefa, G.; Steenhuis, T. S. 2022. Pesticide contamination of surface and groundwater in an Ethiopian highlands’ watershed. Water, 14(21):3446. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/w14213446] |
| spellingShingle | pesticides chemical contamination surface water groundwater water pollution highlands watersheds lakes ecotoxicity aquatic organisms fish human health risk assessment farmers Sishu, F. K. Tilahun, S. A. Schmitter, Petra S. Assefa, G. Steenhuis, T. S. Pesticide contamination of surface and groundwater in an Ethiopian highlands’ watershed |
| title | Pesticide contamination of surface and groundwater in an Ethiopian highlands’ watershed |
| title_full | Pesticide contamination of surface and groundwater in an Ethiopian highlands’ watershed |
| title_fullStr | Pesticide contamination of surface and groundwater in an Ethiopian highlands’ watershed |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pesticide contamination of surface and groundwater in an Ethiopian highlands’ watershed |
| title_short | Pesticide contamination of surface and groundwater in an Ethiopian highlands’ watershed |
| title_sort | pesticide contamination of surface and groundwater in an ethiopian highlands watershed |
| topic | pesticides chemical contamination surface water groundwater water pollution highlands watersheds lakes ecotoxicity aquatic organisms fish human health risk assessment farmers |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/144118 |
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