Analysis of alpha-cypermethrin pesticide residues along the value chain of tomato from Laikipia County, Kenya
BACKGROUND In Kenya, the extensive use of agrochemicals in fruits and vegetable farming raises concerns about pesticide residues in agricultural products including tomato fruits. There are still a number of highly hazardous pesticides including mancozeb, glyphosate acid, chlorpyrifos, acephate and c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Wiley
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176887 |
| _version_ | 1855536165388550144 |
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| author | Obar, J.A. Kwoba, E. Omosa, Esther Ekaya, Wellington Fèvre, Eric M. Onono, J. |
| author_browse | Ekaya, Wellington Fèvre, Eric M. Kwoba, E. Obar, J.A. Omosa, Esther Onono, J. |
| author_facet | Obar, J.A. Kwoba, E. Omosa, Esther Ekaya, Wellington Fèvre, Eric M. Onono, J. |
| author_sort | Obar, J.A. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | BACKGROUND
In Kenya, the extensive use of agrochemicals in fruits and vegetable farming raises concerns about pesticide residues in agricultural products including tomato fruits. There are still a number of highly hazardous pesticides including mancozeb, glyphosate acid, chlorpyrifos, acephate and cypermethrin amongst many others that are still used in Kenya despite being banned in Europe due to harmful effects on humans and other animals. This study aimed to evaluate the residual levels of cypermethrin pesticide in locally produced tomato in Laikipia County, Kenya. Also, the study identified some practices that lead to pesticide residual levels in tomatoes. A total of 82 tomato samples were analyzed for pesticide residues following extraction using QuEChERS method and analyzed for the presence of synthetic pyrethroids (<i>cis</i>- and <i>trans</i>-alpha-cypermethrins) pesticides using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS).
RESULTS
The results indicated that 58.54% of tomato samples showed the presence of residues of both pesticides, with none exceeding maximum residue levels (MRLs). The mean residues concentration for <i>trans</i>-alpha-cypermethrin was 23.82, 11.84 and 11.12 ppm in north, east and west Laikipia sub-counties respectively. While that for <i>cis</i>-alpha-cypermethrin was 13.58, 5.63 and 4.62 ppm in north, west and east Laikipia respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite tested pesticide levels in tomatoes being within legal limits, their frequent detection is concerning due to tomatoes being eaten raw. This indicates a potential health risk and highlights the need for farmer training on the banned pesticide cypermethrin and expanded future research. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace176887 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| publisherStr | Wiley |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1768872025-12-22T09:05:35Z Analysis of alpha-cypermethrin pesticide residues along the value chain of tomato from Laikipia County, Kenya Obar, J.A. Kwoba, E. Omosa, Esther Ekaya, Wellington Fèvre, Eric M. Onono, J. food safety health pesticide residues tomatoes vegetables BACKGROUND In Kenya, the extensive use of agrochemicals in fruits and vegetable farming raises concerns about pesticide residues in agricultural products including tomato fruits. There are still a number of highly hazardous pesticides including mancozeb, glyphosate acid, chlorpyrifos, acephate and cypermethrin amongst many others that are still used in Kenya despite being banned in Europe due to harmful effects on humans and other animals. This study aimed to evaluate the residual levels of cypermethrin pesticide in locally produced tomato in Laikipia County, Kenya. Also, the study identified some practices that lead to pesticide residual levels in tomatoes. A total of 82 tomato samples were analyzed for pesticide residues following extraction using QuEChERS method and analyzed for the presence of synthetic pyrethroids (<i>cis</i>- and <i>trans</i>-alpha-cypermethrins) pesticides using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). RESULTS The results indicated that 58.54% of tomato samples showed the presence of residues of both pesticides, with none exceeding maximum residue levels (MRLs). The mean residues concentration for <i>trans</i>-alpha-cypermethrin was 23.82, 11.84 and 11.12 ppm in north, east and west Laikipia sub-counties respectively. While that for <i>cis</i>-alpha-cypermethrin was 13.58, 5.63 and 4.62 ppm in north, west and east Laikipia respectively. CONCLUSIONS Despite tested pesticide levels in tomatoes being within legal limits, their frequent detection is concerning due to tomatoes being eaten raw. This indicates a potential health risk and highlights the need for farmer training on the banned pesticide cypermethrin and expanded future research. 2026-01 2025-10-08T12:08:44Z 2025-10-08T12:08:44Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176887 en Limited Access Wiley Obar, J.A., Kwoba, E., Omosa, E., Ekaya, W., Fèvre, E. and Onono, J. 2026. Analysis of alpha-cypermethrin pesticide residues along the value chain of tomato from Laikipia County, Kenya. Pest Management Science. |
| spellingShingle | food safety health pesticide residues tomatoes vegetables Obar, J.A. Kwoba, E. Omosa, Esther Ekaya, Wellington Fèvre, Eric M. Onono, J. Analysis of alpha-cypermethrin pesticide residues along the value chain of tomato from Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title | Analysis of alpha-cypermethrin pesticide residues along the value chain of tomato from Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_full | Analysis of alpha-cypermethrin pesticide residues along the value chain of tomato from Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of alpha-cypermethrin pesticide residues along the value chain of tomato from Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of alpha-cypermethrin pesticide residues along the value chain of tomato from Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_short | Analysis of alpha-cypermethrin pesticide residues along the value chain of tomato from Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_sort | analysis of alpha cypermethrin pesticide residues along the value chain of tomato from laikipia county kenya |
| topic | food safety health pesticide residues tomatoes vegetables |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176887 |
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