Analysis, Quantification and Identification of Pesticides from Lettuce in Ouagadougou City (Burkina Faso)

In Burkina Faso, chemical inputs are used massively in market gardening to increase the yields. The misuse of these chemicals is responsible of contamination of market garden products, leading to the rapid rotting of vegetables. The objective of this study was to determine the pesticides in chemical inputs applied on vegetables produced in Ouagadougou City. To do this, lettuce has been sampled from producers in three sites (Tanghin, Boulmiougou and Kossodo) and pesticides amounts have been analyzed using Gas Chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.

Chemical analyses have carried out on three lettuce samples and the extraction of chemical input residues was done according to QuEChERS (Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe) method. Results revealed the presence of six (06) pesticide molecules (chlordimeform, quintozene, lindane, cypermethrin, α-cypermethrin, δ-deltamethrin) in Boulmiougou sample, four (04) molecules (methomyl, cypermethrin, α-cypermethrin, δ-deltamethrin) in Kossodo sample and three (03) molecules (cypermethrin, α-cypermethrin, δ-deltamethrin) in Tanghin sample. In this regard, analysis of pesticide amount revealed that the quantity of molecules was acceptable for the consumer, but these pesticides could contribute to the rapid rotting of our vegetables which generates economic and social losses for the country.