Lindane and Endosulfan residues in water and fish in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Abstract

Pesticide residue analyses were performed on water and fish samples from the River Oda in Besease, the River Aframso in Nobewam near Kumasi, the River Twetwe in Akomadan and the River Kowire at Agogo in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The sampling sites were in regions of intense farming activities in the closed forest zone of the country. Analysis of the pesticide residues was done by gas chromatography, with a 63Ni electron capture detector. The residue levels for lindane and endosulfan were determined from water samples and in the following fish samples: Oreochromis niloticus, Tilapia zillii, Barbus trispulis, Heterobranchus sp., Tiliapia busumana, Ophiocephalus obscura and Chana obscura. Lindane residues ranging from 6.4 to 35.2 ng/g were obtained for the water samples, and from 0.8 to 265 ng/l for the fish samples. These values are well below World Health Organization recommended safe values for water and fish samples.

JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION Volume 1 Number 1, July (1998) pp. 135-140