Widespread use of toxic agrochemicals and pesticides for agricultural products storage in Africa and developing countries: Possible panacea for ecotoxicology and health implications

Chemicals used for storage majorly possess insecticidal activities – deterring destructive insect pests and microorganisms from stored agricultural produce. Despite the controversy about their safety, local farmers and agro-wholesalers still predominantly use these chemicals in developing countries,...

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Veröffentlicht in:Heliyon 2023-04, Vol.9 (4), p.e15173-e15173, Article e15173
Hauptverfasser: Anaduaka, Emeka Godwin, Uchendu, Nene Orizu, Asomadu, Rita Onyekachukwu, Ezugwu, Arinze Linus, Okeke, Emmanuel Sunday, Chidike Ezeorba, Timothy Prince
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Chemicals used for storage majorly possess insecticidal activities – deterring destructive insect pests and microorganisms from stored agricultural produce. Despite the controversy about their safety, local farmers and agro-wholesalers still predominantly use these chemicals in developing countries, especially Africa, to ensure an all-year supply of agriproducts. These chemicals could have short- or long-term effects. Despite the state-of-the-art knowledge, factors such as poor education and awareness, limited agricultural subventions, quests for cheap chemicals, over-dosage, and many more are the possible reasons for these toxic chemicals' setback and persistent use in developing countries. This paper provides an up-to-date review of the environmental and ecological effects, as well as the health impacts arising from the indiscriminate use of toxic chemicals in agriproducts. Existing data link pesticides to endocrine disruption, genetic mutations, neurological dysfunction, and other metabolic disorders, apart from the myriad of acute effects. Finally, this study recommended several naturally sourced preservatives as viable alternatives to chemical counterparts and emphasized the invaluable role of education and awareness programs in mitigating the use in developing nations for a sustainable society. •Storage of agro-produces ensures an all-year-round supply.•The use of toxic chemicals for food storage is prevalent in Africa.•Storage chemicals can cause many health and environmental toxicities.•Nutritional and sensory properties of stored products can be affected.•The use of natural preservatives can be a better alternative.
ISSN:2405-8440
2405-8440
DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15173