The Toxicity of Synthetic Pesticides in the Niger Delta Region: A Review

Abstract

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria with a vast and resourceful ecosystem which has welcomed diverse agricultural practices and crude oil exploration. On the other hand, being a wetland it has also become a breeding ground for major pests of agricultural and public health interest. One major problem is the proliferation of mosquitoes which have obliged the intense usage of pesticides. Typically, pesticides are agents meant to control targeted organisms (pests) that have caused adverse effects to man and his environment. Due to the excessive and inappropriate usage of pesticide they drift and get linked to contaminable environmental media such as water, air and soil. Human exposure can occur from inhaled spray drift, accidental ingestion, runoffs and in a broad sense through food chains. Pesticides find their way into different ecosystems causing adverse effects to non-target organisms, most of these non-target organism lacks metabolites to degrade these toxic pesticides residue in their cells and tissues; hence accumulate them and transfer them to other organisms via food chain which could cause acute and chronic effect. In addition, industrial and municipal effluents have a more toxic synergistic effect with pesticides. Toxic effects of pesticides can be controlled by; adhering to safety instructions from manufacturers of pesticides, thorough washing of agricultural produce, use of gloves and mask by the applicant and other safety measures. In addition, toxicological research and advocacy should be more active in the Niger Delta Region as well as proper and active regulation of pesticides usage to comply with minimal residual limits of pesticides and anthropogenic agents.