Pesticide misuse, health impacts, and knowledge gaps among Cameroonian vegetable farmers: survey findings

SOPKOUTIE KENGNI NERLUS GAUTIERabc*, DJEUGAP FOVO JOSEPHa, ABUKARI WUMBEId, NGULEFACK ERNEST FORGHABc, TABI NTOH GAETANab, NYA EDOUARDe, SPANOGHE PIETERf & GALANI YAMDEU JOSEPH HUBERTg

a Plant pathology and agricultural zoology research unit, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, PO Box 222, Dschang, Cameroon.

b THE CURE, Scientific Research Assistance (SRA), Africa Service Company (ASC), Foto, Dschang, WestCameroon.

c Green Landscape Association GrEEN, Molyko, Buea, South-West, Cameroon.

d Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University for Development Studies, Ghana, P. O. Box TL 1350, Tamale, Ghana.

e Laboratoire National d’Analyse et de Diagnostic des Produits et Intrants Végétaux (LNAD), Messa Yaoundé, Cameroun.

f Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.

g Section of Natural and Applied Sciences, School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK.

* Corresponding Author: snerlusgautier@yahoo.com, gautier.sopkoutie@univ-dschang.org

Received: 07 March 2025, Reviewed: 09 April 2025, Revised: 11 April 2025, Accepted: 21 April 2025, Published: 03 July 2025 

https://doi.org/10.63342/cjbbs2025.33.011.eng

DOWNLOAD PDF HERE

Abstract

Pesticide exposure poses a significant threat to public health in Cameroon, a country reliant heavily on vegetable production. This study aimed to assess the usage, knowledge, and handling practices of pesticides among vegetable farmers. We surveyed 345 farmers across six regions and eight divisions using interviews and on-farm observations from 2021 to 2022. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics, including multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and logistic regression. Farmers applied 43 active ingredients—46.5% insecticides, 41.8% fungicides, and 11.6% herbicides—many of which threaten health, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Of these, 6.9%, such as abamectin and methomyl, are classified as highly hazardous (WHO Ib), while others, including glyphosate, 2,4-D, and chlorothalonil, are probable or possible carcinogens (IARC, 2021). Misuse was prevalent: 80.4% mixed pesticides, 49.2% disregarded recommended dosages, and applications occurred twice weekly on average. Lack of support was evident, with 67.6% of farmers receiving no assistance, 65.3% lacking training, and 42.3% depending on neighbors for advice; additionally, 64.1% stored pesticides at home. MCA revealed that misuse correlated with farming experience, information sources, education level, land tenure, and inadequate support. Strikingly, 88.6% reported post-handling symptoms (e.g., fatigue, dizziness), with risk factors including limited PPE use, higher age, frequent applications, and less experience. Women showed greater vulnerability (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.39–7.80, P <0.05), whereas PPE use reduced risks (OR = 5.86, 95% CI: 2.62–13.09, P <0.05), and lack of assistance exacerbated outcomes (OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12–0.65, P <0.05). Significant knowledge gaps in compliance, health risks, and environmental impacts were evident (P < 0.01). These findings highlight a public health crisis driven by pervasive misuse in vegetable cultivation. We recommend urgent training and support for farmers, alongside residue analysis in Cameroon’s vegetables to quantify contamination levels and health risks, biomonitoring to assess exposure, and African Union-aligned bans on WHO Ib pesticides to protect communities.

Keywords: Pesticides, Vegetables, Farmers, Cameroon, Knowledge, Health.

Résumé

L’exposition aux pesticides constitue une menace significative pour la santé publique au Cameroun, un pays fortement dépendant de la production maraîchère. Cette étude visait à évaluer l’utilisation, les connaissances et les pratiques de manipulation des pesticides parmi les maraîchers. Nous avons interrogé 345 agriculteurs répartis dans six régions et huit départements à l’aide d’entretiens et d’observations sur le terrain entre 2021 et 2022. Les données ont été analysées avec des statistiques descriptives et inférentielles, incluant une analyse des correspondances multiples (ACM) et une régression logistique. Les agriculteurs utilisaient 43 substances actives – 46,5 % d’insecticides, 41,8 % de fongicides et 11,6 % d’herbicides – dont beaucoup menacent la santé, les écosystèmes et la biodiversité. Parmi celles-ci, 6,9 %, comme l’abamectine et le méthomyl, sont classées comme hautement dangereuses (OMS Ib), tandis que d’autres, dont le glyphosate, le 2,4-D et le chlorothalonil, sont des cancérogènes probables ou possibles (CIRC, 2021). Les mauvaises pratiques étaient répandues : 80,4 % mélangeaient des pesticides, 49,2 % ignoraient les dosages recommandés, et les applications avaient lieu en moyenne deux fois par semaine. Un manque de soutien était évident : 67,6 % des agriculteurs ne recevaient aucune assistance, 65,3 % n’avaient aucune formation, 42,3 % dépendaient des conseils de voisins, et 64,1 % stockaient les pesticides à domicile. L’ACM a révélé que les mauvaises pratiques étaient corrélées à l’expérience agricole, aux sources d’information, au niveau d’éducation, au régime foncier et au manque de soutien. De manière frappante, 88,6 % ont signalé des symptômes après manipulation (fatigue, vertiges), avec des facteurs de risque incluant une utilisation limitée des équipements de protection individuelle (EPI), un âge avancé, des applications fréquentes et une moindre expérience. Les femmes étaient plus vulnérables (OR = 1,09 ; IC 95 % : 0,39–7,80 ; p < 0,05), tandis que l’utilisation d’EPI réduisait les risques (OR = 5,86 ; IC 95 % : 2,62–13,09 ; p < 0,05), et le manque d’assistance aggravait les conséquences (OR = 0,28 ; IC 95 % : 0,12–0,65 ; p < 0,05). Des lacunes importantes ont été identifiées concernant la conformité aux normes, les risques sanitaires et les impacts environnementaux (p < 0,01). Ces résultats mettent en lumière une crise de santé publique liée à l’usage inapproprié des pesticides dans la culture maraîchère. Nous recommandons une formation et un soutien urgents pour les agriculteurs, des analyses de résidus dans les légumes camerounais pour quantifier la contamination et les risques sanitaires, un biomonitoring pour évaluer l’exposition, et une interdiction des pesticides de classe OMS Ib, conformément aux directives de l’Union africaine, pour protéger les populations.

Mots-clés : Pesticides, Légumes, Agriculteurs, Cameroun, Connaissances, Santé.

REFERENCES

Abdulai A N, Konje C N, Achiri T D, Tarla D N and Nsobinenyui D (2019). Pesticide use practices by market gardeners in the Santa Area of the North West Region of Cameroon. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science 26, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2018/v26i630060

Ahmed A A and Muhammad R A (2021). A beginner’s review of Jamovi statistical software for economic research. Journal of Economic Research 6, 1–15.

Atlas des Pesticides (2023). Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Paris & La Fabrique écologique. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Paris, France, 64 p. https://fr.boell.org/fr/atlas-des-pesticides. Date of consultation: 09/11/2024.

Bagheri A, Emami N, Damalas C A and Allahyari M S (2019). Farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of pesticide use in apple farms of northern Iran: Impact on safety behaviour. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 26, 5073–5083. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04330-y

Bagheri A, Pirmoazen S and Allahyari M S (2021). Assessment of farmers’ understanding of the pictograms displayed on pesticide labels. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28, 17812–17825. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11821-w

Berenstein G A, Hughes E A, March H, Rojic G, Zalts A and Montserrat J M (2014). Pesticide potential dermal exposure during the manipulation of concentrated mixtures at small horticultural and floricultural production units in Argentina: The formulation effect. Science of the Total Environment 472, 509–516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.026

Berg H (2001). Pesticide use in rice and rice–fish farms in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Crop Protection 20, 897–905. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-2194(01)00039-4

Berry C (2020). Glyphosate and cancer: The importance of the whole picture. Pest Management Science 76, 2874–2877. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.5834

Bhandari G, Atreya K, Yang X, Fan L and Geissen V (2018). Factors affecting pesticide safety behaviour: The perceptions of Nepalese farmers and retailers. Science of The Total Environment 631–632, 1560–1571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.144

Boedeker W, Watts M, Clausing P and Marquez E (2020). The global distribution of acute unintentional pesticide poisoning: Estimations based on a systematic review. BMC Public Health 20, 1875. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09939-0

Bombardi L (2017). Atlas: Geografia do uso de agrotóxicos no Brasil e conexões com a União Européia. FFLCH-USP, São Paulo, Brazil, 296 p.

Chuisseu D D P, Domngang C, Boutchouang R P, Njayou N A, Tedong L F M, Manfo T, Simo Nemg B F, Mbiandjeu M, Kouam F A, Galani T B R, Kouamouo J and Ngogang J (2020). Connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des agriculteurs sur les agropesticides et leurs effets sur la santé dans le département du Nde-Cameroun. African Journal of Integrated Health 10, 86–94.

Cochran W G (1977). Sampling techniques (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons, New York, USA, 428 p.

Crump K (2020). The potential effects of recall bias and selection bias on the epidemiological evidence for the carcinogenicity of glyphosate. Risk Analysis 40, 696–704. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.13440

Dieudonne O, Nguefack J, Dongmo Lekagne J B, Dakole Daboy C, Azah Udom R and Ndonkeu Mangoumou G (2021). The cultivation of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) in Foumbot agricultural area, West Region, Cameroon. Advanced Journal of Social Science 8, 54–66. https://doi.org/10.21467/ajss.8.1.54-66

Djuidje K, Flora P, Tafokou J, Bernadin R and Vanelle T (2021). Assessing the health and environmental risks of phytosanitary practices used by market gardening in the Yaoundé 7 area (Nkolbisson) in Cameroon. Journal of Environmental Science and Public Health 9, 44–50.

Doumbia M and Kwadjo K E (2009). Abstracts-Posters. Journal of Applied Biosciences 18, 992–1002 (abstract). https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.13084

Dupont Y (2018). Le goût des pesticides dans le vin. International Journal of Environmental Studies 75, 867–869. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207233.2018.1453384

Echodu R, Oedema H, Wokorach G, Zawedde C, Otim G, Luambano N, Miinda E and Asiimwe T (2019). Farmers’ practices and their knowledge of biotic constraints to sweetpotato production in East Africa. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 105, 3–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmpp.2018.07.004

Efuetlancha E N (2020). Assessing small-scale farmers’ attitudes, practices, and vulnerability to pesticide use in market gardening crops in M’muockngie (South Western Cameroon). Journal of Advances in Education and Philosophy 4, 295–305. https://doi.org/10.36348/jaep.2020.v04i06.010

Efuetlancha N E and Kuete M (2020). An assessment of school-going population exposure pathways to agropesticide in the Mungo Corridor of Cameroon. European Scientific Journal ESJ 16, 123–144. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2020.v16n26p123

FAO (2022). International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management—Guidance on Good Labelling Practice for Pesticides (2nd rev.). FAO, Rome, Italy, 44 p.

FAOSTAT (2019). Pesticide use data. http://www.fao.org/faostat/fr/#data/QC. Date of consultation: 19/05/2025.

Fontem D A (2003). Effets quantitatifs du mildiou précoce et tardif sur les rendements de la tomate au Cameroun. Tropicultura 21, 36–41.

Galani Y J H, Houbraken M, Wumbei A, Djeugap J F, Fotio D, Gong Y Y and Spanoghe P (2021). Contamination of foods from Cameroon with residues of 20 halogenated pesticides and health risk of adult human dietary exposure. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, 5043. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18095043

Gimou M M, Charrondiere U R, Leblanc J C and Pouillot R (2008). Dietary exposure to pesticide residues in Yaoundé: The Cameroonian total diet study. Food Additives and Contaminants – Part A Chemistry, Analysis, Control, Exposure and Risk Assessment 25, 458–471. https://doi.org/10.1080/02652030701567475

Gnankiné O, Mouton L, Savadogo A, Martin T, Sanon A, Dabire R K, Vavre F and Fleury F (2013). Biotype status and resistance to neonicotinoids and carbosulfan in Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Burkina Faso, West Africa. International Journal of Pest Management 59, 95–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670874.2013.771806

Houbraken M, Bauweraerts I, Fevery D, Van Labeke M-C and Spanoghe P (2016). Pesticide knowledge and practice among horticultural workers in the Lâm Đồng region, Vietnam: A case study of chrysanthemum and strawberries. Science of the Total Environment 550, 1001–1009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.183

Kamga A, Kouame C, Tchindjang M, Chagomoka T and Drescher A W (2013). Environmental impacts from overuse of chemical fertilisers and pesticides amongst market gardening in Bamenda, Cameroon. Revue Scientifique et Technique Forêt et Environnement du Bassin du Congo 1, 8–24.

Kamsu P N, Tchameni S N, Ayong N A, Moussango M, Youassi O Y, Sameza M L, Michel P and Jazet D (2022). Phytosanitary practices of tomato producers in the western region of Cameroon. International Journal of Advanced Agricultural Research 9, 1–9.

Kapeleka J A (2024). Quantification of pesticide dosage and determinants of excessive pesticide use in smallholder vegetable production systems in Tanzania. Heliyon 10, e41070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41070

Kariathi V, Kassim N and Kimanya M (2016). Pesticide exposure from fresh tomatoes and its relationship with pesticide application practices in Meru district. Cogent Food & Agriculture 2, 1196808. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2016.1196808

Kaur G, Kumar B V S, Singh B and Sethi R S (2021). Exposures to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid with or without endotoxin upregulate the small cell lung cancer pathway. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 16, 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-021-00304-4

Kenko N D B and Kamta N (2021). Human and environmental health implications of pesticide utilisation by market gardeners in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology 14, 44–56. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajee/2021/v14i330210

Kenko N D B, Fai A, Ngameni T and Mbida M (2017). Environmental and human health assessment in relation to pesticide use by local farmers and the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), Fako Division, South-West Cameroon. European Scientific Journal ESJ 13, 454–474. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2017.v13n21p454

Khadda Z B, Fagroud M, Karmoudi Y E, Ezrari S, Berni I, Broe M D, Behl T, Bungau S G and Houssaini T S (2021). Farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding carcinogenic pesticides in the Fez Meknes Region (Morocco). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, 10879. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010879

Kim K-H, Kabir E and Jahan S A (2017). Exposure to pesticides and the associated human health effects. Science of the Total Environment 575, 525–535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.09.009

Le Bellec F, Scorbiac M and Sauzier J (2017). Les pratiques phytosanitaires des producteurs de légumes de l’île Maurice: Impacts et perspectives de changement. Cahiers Agricultures 26, 55001. https://doi.org/10.1051/cagri/2017038

Le Bellec F, Vélu A, Fournier P, Le Squin S, Michels T, Tendero A and Bockstaller C (2015). Helping farmers to reduce herbicide environmental impacts. Ecological Indicators 54, 207–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.02.010

Lombardi C, Thompson S, Ritz B, Cockburn M and Heck J E (2021). Residential proximity to pesticide application as a risk factor for childhood central nervous system tumours. Environmental Research 197, 111078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.111078

López-Dávila E, Torres L, Houbraken M and Laing G (2020). Knowledge and practical use of pesticides in Cuba. Environmental Management and Sustainability 21, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40550-018-0066-1

Marete G, Lalah J, Mputhia J and Wekesa V (2021). Pesticide usage practices as sources of occupational exposure and health impacts on horticultural farmers in Meru County, Kenya. Heliyon 7, e05906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e05906

MINADER (2021). Liste des pesticides homologués au Cameroun au 04 Mars 2021. Commission Nationale d’Homologation des Pesticides à Usage Agricole; Ministère de l’Agriculture et du Développement Rural (MINADER), Yaoundé, Cameroon, 12 p.

Miyittah K M, Kwadzo M, Gyamfua A P and Dodor D E (2020). Health risk factors associated with pesticide use by watermelon farmers in the Central region, Ghana. Environmental Systems Research 9, 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-020-00170-9

Mubushar M, Aldosari F O, Baig M B, Alotaibi B M and Khan A (2019). Assessment of farmers on their knowledge regarding pesticide usage and biosafety. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 26, 1903–1910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2019.03.001

Negatu B, Kromhout H, Mekonnen Y and Vermeulen R (2016). Use of chemical pesticides in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional comparative study on knowledge, attitude, and practice of farmers and farm workers in three farming systems. Annals of Occupational Hygiene 60, 551–566. https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/mew004

Ngowi A V F (2003). A study of farmers’ knowledge, attitude, and experience in the use of pesticides in coffee farming. Tropical Pesticides Research Institute Journal 13, 62–64.

Njukeng J N, Nkembi L, Forghab N E and Nji A D (2021). Agroforestry practices and food security in the Mount Bamboutos landscape, Western Highlands of Cameroon. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews 11, 203–211. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2021.11.1.0311

Nkembi L, Mubeteneh T C, Nji A D, Forghab N E and Nkengafac N J (2023). Farmland management strategies by smallholder farmers in the Mount Bamboutos landscape in Cameroon. In: Nishi M & Subramanian S M (Eds.), Ecosystem Restoration through Managing Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS), Springer Nature Singapore, Singapore, pp. 97–116. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-1292-6_6

Ntsoli P G, Boat B, Marie A, Baleba C C, Tchatcho N S F, Djoko K I, Titti R W, Etame K G M and Yaouba A (2024). Postharvest practices, perceptions, and knowledge of mycotoxins among groundnut farmers in the Adamawa, Centre, and North regions of Cameroon. Scientifica 2024, 5596036. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5596036

Okolle N J, Afari-Sefa V, Bidogeza J C, Tata P I and Ngome F A (2016). An evaluation of smallholder farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, choices, and gender perspectives in vegetable pests and diseases control practices in the humid tropics of Cameroon. International Journal of Pest Management 62, 165–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670874.2016.1184772

ONACC (2023). Bulletin de prévisions des paramètres climatiques des mois de décembre, janvier et février 2022-2023.http://onsp.minsante.cm/sites/default/files/publications/319/Bulletin_N°21_de_Déc_2022_à_Fév_2023%2C_version_du_05-12-2022.pdf. Date of consultation: 09/10/2024.

Pan Y, Ren Y and Luning P A (2021). Factors influencing Chinese farmers’ proper pesticide application in agricultural products—a review. Food Control 122, 107788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107788

Pesticide Action Network Europe (2022). EU pesticide atlas 2022. PAN Europe, Brussels, Belgium, 48 p.

PPDB (2022). PPDB: Pesticide Properties DataBase. University of Hertfordshire. http://sitem.herts.ac.uk/aeru/ppdb/en/search.htm. Date of consultation: 19/08/2024.

Samsel A and Seneff S (2015). Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases III: Manganese, neurological diseases, and associated pathologies. Surgical Neurology International 6, 45. https://doi.org/10.4103/2152-7806.153876

Sapbamrer R (2018). Pesticide use, poisoning, and knowledge about pesticide management among farmers in Northern Thailand. Journal of Occupational Health 60, 10–25. https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.17-0152-OA

Schiffers B and Mar A (2011). Sécurité des opérateurs et bonnes pratiques phytosanitaires. COLEACP/PIP Press, Brussels, Belgium, 120 p.

Sharafi K, Pirsaheb M, Maleki S, Arfaeinia H, Karimyan K, Moradi M and Safari Y (2018). Knowledge, attitude, and practices of farmers about pesticide use, risks, and wastes; a cross-sectional study (Kermanshah, Iran). Science of The Total Environment 645, 509–517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.132

Siqueira H A A, Guedes R N C and Picanço M C (2000). Insecticide resistance in populations of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Agricultural and Forest Entomology 2, 147–153. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1461-9563.2000.00062.x

Smith A M, Smith M T, La Merrill M A, Liaw J and Steinmaus C (2017). 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A meta-analysis accounting for exposure levels. Annals of Epidemiology 27, 281–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2017.03.003

Sonchieu J, Fointama E, Akono N and Serri B (2019). Farmers’ knowledge, attitude, and practices on pesticide safety: A case study of vegetable farmers in Mount-Bamboutos agricultural area, Cameroon. Agricultural Sciences 10, 1039–1055. https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2019.108079

Sonchieu J, Ngassoum B M, Akono E N and Laxman P S (2017). Pesticide applications on some vegetables cultivated and health implications in Santa, North West-Cameroon. International Journal of Agriculture & Environmental Science 4, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.14445/23942568/ijaes-v4i2p108

Sopkoutie G N K, Djeugap J F, Wumbei A, Spanoghe P and Galani Y J H (2024). Assessment of pesticide usage, phytosanitary practices and risks associated with pesticide use by farmers in Cameroon: A comprehensive literature review. Cameroon Journal of Biological and Biochemical Sciences 32, 82–109.

Sopkoutie N G K, Abdulai A N, Tarla D N, Djeugap F, Galani Y J H, Ekengoue C, Tabang W, Nya E and Payne V (2021). Phytosanitary practices and evaluation of 17 pesticide residues in tomatoes fruits produced in Foumbot District, Western Highland-Cameroon. European Scientific Journal ESJ 17, 30–50. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2021.v17n3p30

Soudani N, Boukhalfa H H, Toumi K and Soudani A (2024). Human health and environmental risk perceptions related to pesticide use in Algerian market gardening. Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus 89, 391–403.

Sougnabe S P, Yandia A, Aicheleke J, Brévault T, Vaissayre M and Ngartoubam L T (2010). Pratiques phytosanitaires paysannes dans les savanes d’Afrique centrale. In: Savanes africaines en développement: Innover pour durer, Prasac, N’Djaména, Tchad; Cirad, Montpellier, France, pp. 1–13.

Tarla D N, Manu I N, Tamedjouong Z T, Kamga A and Fontem D A (2015). Plight of pesticide applicators in Cameroon: Case of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) farmers in Foumbot. Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences 4, 87–98. https://doi.org/10.15640/jaes.v4n2a10

Tarla D N, Meutchieye F, Assako V A, Fontem D A and Kome J J A (2013). Exposure of market gardeners during pesticide application in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. Scholarly Journal of Agricultural Science 3, 172–177.

Tarla D N, Tchamba N M, Baleguel N P, Fontem D A, Baleguel P D and Hans D (2014). Inventory of obsolete pesticide stockpiles in Cameroon. Scholarly Journal of Agricultural Science 4, 43–50.

Tolera S (2020). Systematic review on adverse effects of pesticides on top ten importers of African countries. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management 24, 1607–1616. https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v24i9.9

Tudi M, Daniel R, Wang L, Lyu J, Sadler R, Connell D, Chu C and Phung D (2021). Agriculture development, pesticide application, and its impact on the environment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, 1112. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18031112

Wang Y, Huo X and Zhu Y (2015). Why are some restricted pesticides still chosen by some farmers in China? Empirical evidence from a survey of vegetable and apple growers. Food Control 51, 417–424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2014.12.002

Wang Z, Kottawatta K S A, Kodithuwakku S P, Fernando T S, Lee Y-L, Ng E H Y, Yeung W S B and Lee K-F (2021). The fungicide mancozeb reduces spheroid attachment onto endometrial epithelial cells through downregulation of oestrogen receptor β and integrin β3 in Ishikawa cells. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 208, 111606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111606

Weis G C C, Assmann C E, Cadoná F C, Bonadiman B da S R, Alves A de O, Machado A K, Duarte M M M F, Cruz I B M da and Costabeber I H (2019). Immunomodulatory effect of mancozeb, chlorothalonil, and thiophanate methyl pesticides on macrophage cells. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 182, 109420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109420

World Health Organization (2009). Pesticide residues in food – 2008: Toxicological evaluations. WHO Press, Geneva, Switzerland, 448 p.

World Health Organization (2021). IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans. https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications. Date of consultation: 22/06/2024.

Wumbei A, Houbraken M and Spanoghe P (2019). Pesticide use and exposure among yam farmers in the Nanumba traditional area of Ghana. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 191, 307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7449-5

Zyoud S H, Sawalha A F, Sweileh W M, Awang R, Al-Khalil S I, Al-Jabi S W and Bsharat N M (2010). Knowledge and practices of pesticide use among farm workers in the West Bank, Palestine: Safety implications. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 15, 252–261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-010-0136-3