Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Tomato and Pepper Samples from Jos Market, Plateau State

The indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides in crop production across North Central Nigeria raises serious concerns regarding the accumulation of pesticide residues in food crops destined for direct human consumption. This study determined the levels of organochlorine and organophosphate pesticide residues in tomato and pepper samples purchased from the main market in Jos, Plateau State. A total of forty samples were collected, comprising twenty tomato samples and twenty pepper samples. Pesticide extraction was performed using the QuEChERS method, and residue analysis was carried out by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Eight organochlorine compounds and five organophosphate compounds were targeted in the analytical procedure. Chlorpyrifos was detected in 65 percent of tomato samples and 70 percent of pepper samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.04 to 0.31 mg/kg. Lambda-cyhalothrin was found in over half of the tomato samples at levels up to 0.18 mg/kg. Endosulfan, a banned organochlorine pesticide, was detected in 25 percent of samples at concentrations between 0.02 and 0.09 mg/kg. Maximum residue limits established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission were exceeded in seven samples. These results indicate potential dietary exposure risks for consumers, particularly children who consume these vegetables in relatively large quantities. The findings underscore the need for increased regulatory enforcement of pesticide use guidelines among vegetable farmers supplying the Jos market and for routine monitoring of residues in fresh produce at Nigerian markets.

Keywords: pesticide residues, tomatoes, organochlorine, gas chromatography, Plateau State