Pesticides are used in vegetable farming to control pests and diseases, reduce crop losses and improve yield. The study examined pesticide residues in irrigation waters and leafy green vegetables grown in some farming areas in Accra, Ghana. Three types of irrigation water sources (n = 23) and two exotic and four indigenous Ghanaian leafy vegetables (n = 34) from 10 farming areas in Accra, Ghana were collected and examined for 15 organochlorines, 13 organophosphorus and 9 synthetic pyrethroids pesticide residues using the modified QuEChERS procedure. Pesticide residues were detected on 50% (17/34) of the leafy vegetable and 52% (12/23) of the irrigation water samples analysed. Chlorpyrifos and deltamethrin were the most detected pesticide residues in the vegetables and irrigation water. About 26.5% of the vegetables contained pesticide residues exceeding the EU maximum residue limits, so vegetable farmers should be encouraged to comply with appropriate measures on pesticide use to enhance food safety.
Keywords: Leafy green vegetables; food safety; irrigation water; organophosphorus; pesticide residues; synthetic pyrethroids.