Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Effect of Agrochemical Use on the Drinking Water Quality of Agogo, a Tomato Growing Community in Ashanti Akim, Ghana

  • Published:
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of agrochemical use in agricultural activities on the drinking water quality of ground and surface water within Agogo, a prominent tomato growing area in the Ashanti region of Ghana was assessed by monitoring physicochemical parameters, trace metals and microbial quality of two water sources. Levels of contamination were greater in surface water than groundwater. Trace metal levels (mg/L) were 1.40, 0.12, 0.08 and 0.18 in surface water and 0.08, 0.10, 0.05 and 0.08 in groundwater for Fe, Pb, Zn and Cd, respectively. Lead and Cd in surface and groundwater exceeded USEPA maximum acceptable levels (MCLs) for drinking water. Bacterial indicator numbers (geometric means/100 mL) in surface water varied from 9.35 × 105 to 1.57 × 1011 for total coliforms, 4.15 × 104 to 2.10 × 107 for faecal coliforms and 2.80 × 10 to 3.25 × 102 for enterococci, but none was found in groundwater.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adomako D, Nyarko BJB, Dampare SB, Serfor-Armah Y, Osae S, Fianko JR, Akaho EHK (2008) Determination of toxic elements in waters and sediments from River Subin in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Environ Monit Assess 141:165–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Akoto O, Bruce TN, Darko G (2008) Heavy metals pollution profiles in streams serving the Owabi reservoir. Afr J Environ Sci Technol 2(11):354–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Akoto O, Bruce TN, Darko G (2010) Chemical and biological characteristics of streams in the Owabi watershed. Environ Monit Assess 161(1–4):413–422

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asante KA, Agusa T, Subramanian A, Ansa-Asare OD, Biney CA, Tanabe S (2007) Contamination status of arsenic and other trace elements in drinking water and residents from Tarkwa, a historic mining township in Ghana. Chemosphere 66:1513–1522

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atafar Z, Mesdaghinia A, Nouri J, Homaee M, Yunesian M, Ahmadimoghaddam M, Mahvi AH (2010) Effect of fertilizer application on soil heavy metal concentration. Environ Monit Assess 160(4–1):83–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fianko JR, Osae S, Adomako D, Achel DG (2009) Relationship between land use and groundwater quality in six districts in the eastern region of Ghana. Environ Monit Assess 153:139–146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton D, Crossley S (2004) Pesticide residues in food and drinking water: human exposure and risks. Wiley, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Locas A, Demers J, Payment P (2008) Evaluation of photoreactivation of Escherichia coli and enterococci after UV disinfection of municipal wastewater. Can J Microbiol 54:971–975

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ntow WJ (2001) Organochlorine pesticides in water, sediment, crops and human fluids in a farming community in Ghana. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 40:557–563

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ntow WJ, Gijzen HJ, Kelderman P, Drechsel P (2006) Farmer perceptions and pesticide use practices in vegetable production in Ghana. Pest Manag Sci 62:356–365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Obiri S (2007) Determination of heavy metals in water from boreholes in Dumasi in the Wassa West District of western region of Republic of Ghana. Environ Monit Assess 130:455–463

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Obiri-Danso K, Okore-Hanson A, Jones K (2003) The microbiological quality of drinking water sold on the streets in Kumasi, Ghana. Lett Appl Microbiol 37:334–339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Obiri-Danso K, Weobong CAA, Jones K (2005) Aspects of health-related microbiology of the Subin, an urtban river in Kumasi, Ghana. J Water Health 3(1):69–76

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson GR Jr, Larkins P, Boughton CJ, Reeds BW, Silbrell PL (2007) Assessment of contamination from arsenical pesticides use on orchards in the Great Valley region, Virginia and West Virginia, USA. J. Environ Quality 36:654–663

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • USEPA http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html#inorganic Accessed 8 June 2009

  • WHO (2006) Guidelines for drinking-water quality: Incorporating first and second addenda to third edition. Volume 1 Recommendation – Chapter 8. http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/gdwq3rev/en/ Accessed 8 June 2009

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. N. Hogarh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Obiri-Danso, K., Adonadaga, M.G. & Hogarh, J.N. Effect of Agrochemical Use on the Drinking Water Quality of Agogo, a Tomato Growing Community in Ashanti Akim, Ghana. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 86, 71–77 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-010-0183-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-010-0183-x

Keywords

Navigation