HUMAN HEALTH, IMPLICATIONS OF PESTICIDES USAGE IN COCOA PLANTATIONS IN IDANRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Cocoa, Theobroma cacao L., is a major cash crop cultivated in the tropical regions and it plays a significant role in supporting the livelihoods and economic growth of many cocoa-producing African countries. A wide range of pesticides are used by cocoa farmers to mitigate losses from pests and diseases of cocoa. However, constant human exposure to these pesticides results in acute and/or chronic health problems. This research was conducted in Idanre which is one of the largest cocoa producing area in Ondo state, Nigeria. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaires interview with farmers who used pesticides as one of their major farm inputs. The questionnaire was designed to collect information on commonly used pesticides, farm practices and signs and symptoms of illness related to pesticide exposure. A total of thirteen (13) villages were surveyed in the three (3) districts where a hundred and fifty farmers were interviewed in all district. Aliquots of 5ml each of blood were collected from individual participants (cocoa farmers 40 and artisans 10) and blood tests which include determination of some haematological parameters like White Blood Cell (WBC), Red Blood Cell (RBC), Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and platelets, biochemical parameters like Protein, cholesterol, glucose, creatinine, bilirubin and minerals such as copper and sulphate were determined. There was no significant difference in the biochemical test. The p value for the protein in the blood of the farmers is not significantly different from the artisans likewise creatinine, glucose, cholesterol, total and direct bilirubin ( p< 0.05). The haematological parameters which include platelet count, red blood cell count and packed cell volume in the farmers were not significantly different from the artisans except for the white blood cell (p< 0.05). Copper (83.90±40.36)(1.67±0.82) and sulphate (86.56±12.46) (38.76±9.38) were higher in the farmers than the artisans. Sulphate was significantly different (p<0.05) between the two groups. The result of this present study shows that the farmers’ health status were not greatly affected by pesticide exposure when compared to their control groups (artisans) as there was no significant difference in most of the parameters between the two groups except for the mineral profile. This could be as a result of more exposure to pesticide (particularly CuSO4 and its derivatives) by farmers than their control groups (artisans). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago,IL, USA). The parameters were statistically compared by Student t test and was considered significant at P<0.05