Contamination levels of organophosphorus and synthetic pyrethroid pesticides in vegetables marketed in Accra, Ghana

• The analytical method including the extraction and clean-up procedures.
• Quantitation of pesticide residues in vegetable samples.
• Performance of analytical method and validation.
• Levels of various pesticide residues in the vegetables.

A total of 155 domestic samples of vegetables were collected from local markets in Greater Accra region of the country. All samples were examined for residues of 21 pesticides, including organophosphorus and synthetic pyrethroids. Overall, 52% of the samples had detectable pesticide residues. Of the contaminated samples, 32% contained detectable residues within the MRLs and 21% exceeded their EU maximum residue limits (MRLs) adopted values. The synthetic pyrethroid pesticides recorded higher amount of violation compared with organophosphorus. The most frequently violated pesticides were allethrin and chlorpyrifos at 21% and 14% of violated samples analyzed respectively, which can be an indication of bleach of GAPs for use of these pesticides.