A Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Public Health, John Arko Mensah, has urged farmers to wear nose masks and other protective equipment when spraying pesticides to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals.
He said chemical drift from pesticide spraying was contributing to air pollution and putting farmers’ health at risk.
According to him, prolonged exposure to pesticides could cause respiratory illnesses and other serious health conditions, including cancer, heart disease and cognitive problems.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over the widespread use of pesticides and herbicides in Ghana’s agriculture sector, where studies have found that many farmers spray chemicals without adequate protective gear.
Speaking to Adom News on air pollution and rising deaths in Ghana, Mr Mensah said chemicals released into the atmosphere during pesticide spraying could have serious health consequences for farmers and communities living around farmlands.
“Chemicals from pesticide sprays enter the air and cause air pollution, which can affect farmers’ health through cancer and heart illness. This can kill slowly,” he said.
He cautioned that the health risks extend beyond farmers, noting that pesticide runoff could contaminate nearby water bodies and expose surrounding communities to harmful chemicals.
“The air contamination in the area where the farm is located is dangerous. The river closer to the farm gets contaminated and people will fetch the water and drink, which is not good,” he added.
According to Mr Mensah, a preliminary study conducted by one of his students on the Ankobra River detected pesticide-related chemicals in the water.
He urged farmers to wear appropriate protective equipment whenever they spray crops, particularly cocoa farms, warning that prolonged exposure could have long-term effects on their health.
“Farmers should put on protective equipment before spraying crops or cocoa farmlands. Exposure to pesticides over the years will give them cancer and affect their DNA. The cognitive effects are equally dangerous. Pesticides should be used well,” he cautioned.
A 2020 study of vegetable farmers in the Central Region also linked pesticide exposure to symptoms including headaches, coughing, skin rashes and dizziness, while noting that many farmers lacked adequate protective equipment.
Former Secretary of the Peasant Farmers Association, Charles Nyaaba, has also urged farmers to adopt safer spraying practices.
“Farmers should spray early in the morning or late evening when there is less wind. Avoid spraying against the wind, and always use nose masks, gloves and boots,” he advised.
Mr Nyaaba said he had personally experienced the effects of pesticide exposure.
“I have personally applied pesticides and I felt headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. I have also seen some farmers who have used pesticides for years develop several cancers, especially from inhaling the chemicals. Eye irritation is also common,” he noted.
He stressed that chemical pollution from farms could affect entire communities, not just farmers.
“The air pollution may not affect only the farmer but community members around,” he said.
Some farmers in the Volta Region have similarly reported headaches and skin problems associated with spraying pesticides without nose masks.
At Ashaiman, farmers said the unprotected use of weedicide has also resulted in cases of poisoning, with young people and the elderly reportedly among those affected.
A farmer, Emmanuel Asare, said many farmers avoid protective clothing because of the heat generated while working.
“Most farmers do not want to wear the protective gear because it generates a lot of heat. But that is the best for spraying. We are calling on government to provide us with protective jackets, gloves, face masks and drones for spraying. They should also give us more education on the use of pesticides and Weedicide,” he said.
Chairman of the Ashaiman Left Bank Rural Farmers Association, Stephen Kadre, also appealed for government support.
“We are about 130 farmers working on 200 acres. Many of us do not have protective gear. Government should provide us with drones to do our chemical spraying. It will help us use the chemicals wisely so that consumers will not be affected,” he appealed.
Mr Mensah and Mr Nyaaba are calling for increased training and public education on the safe handling and application of pesticides to protect farmers while sustaining agricultural production.
With air pollution estimated to contribute to thousands of premature deaths in Ghana annually, health experts say reducing exposure to pesticide chemicals and promoting safer spraying practices should be treated as a public health priority.
