The presence of pesticide residues in food products, particularly milk, poses significant public health risks, especially in developing regions where agricultural practices often involve extensive pesticide use. This study aimed to assess the levels of pesticide contamination in milk collected from agro-pastoral cattle settlements in Niger State, Nigeria, and evaluate the associated health risks for both children and adults. Milk samples were systematically collected and analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to detect and quantify the concentrations of various pesticides, including organophosphates, organochlorines, and herbicides.

The detected pesticides included Dichlorvos, β-Hexachlorocyclohexane, Malathion, DDT, and Dieldrin, among others, with Dichlorvos and β-Hexachlorocyclohexane showing the highest concentrations. Using the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) model, we calculated the potential health risks associated with the consumption of contaminated milk for different age groups. The results indicated that children were particularly at risk, with EDI values exceeding the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for certain pesticides, such as Dieldrin, leading to a risk ratio of 1.288. In contrast, adults showed a lower risk, with EDI values generally within safe limits.

The findings underscore the urgent need for stricter pesticide regulation, enhanced monitoring of pesticide residues in livestock products, and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to mitigate the public health risks. This study highlights the vulnerability of children to pesticide exposure through dairy consumption and calls for immediate intervention to safeguard food safety and protect public health.

Food safety concerns involving pesticide residues continue to receive widespread public, legislative, and scientific attention. The National Research Council's 1993 report Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children concluded that significant improvements in the U.S. government's pesticide risk assessment and food tolerance establishment procedures were needed. Strict interpretation of the Delaney Clause by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has led to the projected elimination of several pesticide uses due to statutory, rather than scientific considerations. Congressional “solutions” to the Delaney problem may have broad impacts upon future pest management practices if adopted. Emerging issues include the safety of imported produce and the potential effects of trade agreements such as NAFTA and GATT upon U.S. pesticide residue standards.

Preplant-incorporated (PPI) applications of 280 g ai/ha of imazaquin {2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid} had significantly greater persistence than preemergence surface (PES) applications throughout the growing season in 1985. In 1984 there was no statistical difference in imazaquin remaining between PPI and PES treatments. Very little imazaquin was detected below 10 cm in the soil profile for all sampling dates each year. Imazaquin dissipated rapidly both years during the first 30 days following PPI and PES applications. A subsequent decrease in the dissipation rate occurred in the next 120 days of the growing season. Spring tillage had no significant effect on injury to corn (Zea mays L.) planted into the field the year following imazaquin application. Corn planted in 1986 into imazaquin-treated plots of 1985 had no growth reduction when compared to corn grown in plots where zero imazaquin had been applied. However, corn planted in 1985 into imazaquin applications of 1984 had significant injury. Greatest injury occurred where imazaquin had been incorporated, and injury increased as imazaquin rate was increased.

It is evident that our environment has been flooded with pesticides and that some of these have had effects other than those intended. There is no doubt that indiscriminate use of pesticides has the potential to upset temporarily many ecological patterns. Whether this is significant in the long run remains to be seen.

It is sincerely hoped that the experience of the past (especially in the first world) will ensure wiser use of the pesticides in the future (primarily in the third world). It is likely that new pesticides will be developed and that they will bring new problems. Some of these problems may have far-reaching environmental implications in terms of their potential benefits and their propensity for damage. These problems will be compounded by residues of pesticides and a host of other contaminants already present. Therefore, it should and must be everyone's responsibility that the potential benefits from pesticides are maximised. However, such maximisation will be realised only if the environmental implications of their use is understood, and if they are applied with discretion to minimise their side effects.

We surveyed shoppers at a food cooperative in New York state to measure the relationship between organic produce purchases and attitudes related to pesticide use in agriculture, food costs, and other factors affecting produce buying. Two-fifths of the co-op shoppers surveyed usually or almost always purchased organically grown produce, and one-third were somewhat or very likely to pay 100 percent more than conventional produce for residue-free produce. Those who usually or almost always purchased organic produce were less concerned than other shoppers about price when they shop for produce, had higher levels of concern about food safety, and were less concerned about insects and surface blemishes on produce. There was no relationship between income and frequency of organic purchases. Most shoppers were concerned about pesticide residues in produce, but a high level of concern appeared necessary to affect the frequency of organic purchases. In their support of organic agriculture, respondents ranked environmental protection higher than consumer protection. Educators should emphasize both the environmental and food safety benefits of organic farming to consumers.

The extent to which pests should be managed by biological versus chemical methods has been a burning public policy issue since about 1950. A thorough policy analysis is needed to facilitate movement beyond the status quo. Such analysis should: a) review the extent of adoption of ecologically selective methods of pest control that have emerged from the last three decades of research, b) examine changes in policies, legislation and institutional arrangements that would foster more rapid and widespread adoption of environmentally benign pest controls, c) assess the role of biological controls in facilitating survival of farms during periods of economic adversity and in increasing the competitiveness of American agriculture, d) evaluate opportunities to use ecologically selective pest controls to improve water quality, to reduce environmental impacts of pests and of farming practices, and to preserve the usefulness of pest-resistant crop cultivars and pesticides, and e) identify options and mechanisms to further increase the flow of private and public resources into biocontrol research, development and implementation. A committee of highly accomplished and respected citizens needs to be formed to conduct a thorough analysis of the above and other issues related to the long-term economic viability of farming and to the development and widespread adoption of agricultural practices that will conserve and improve the resource base, and that are devoid of negative impacts on the environment and public health.