Journal article
A Farm to Fork Risk Assessment for the Use of Wastewater in Agriculture in Accra, Ghana
PloS one, Vol.10(11), pp.e0142346-e0142346
11/10/2015
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142346
PMCID: PMC4640866
PMID: 26556044
Abstract
The need to minimise consumer risk, especially for food that can be consumed uncooked, is a continuing public health concern, particularly in places where safe sanitation and hygienic practices are absent. The use of wastewater in agriculture has been associated with disease risks, though its relative significance in disease transmission remains unclear. This study aimed at identifying key risk factors for produce contamination at different entry points of the food chain. Over 500 produce and ready-to-eat salad samples were collected from fields, markets, and kitchens during the dry and wet seasons in Accra, Ghana, and over 300 soil and irrigation water samples were collected. All samples were analysed for E. coli, human adenovirus and norovirus using standard microbiological procedures, and real time RT-PCR. Finally, critical exposures associated with microbial quality of produce were assessed through observations and interviews. The study found that over 80% of produce samples were contaminated with E. coli, with median concentrations ranging from 0.64 to 3.84 Log E. coli/g produce. Prepared salad from street food vendors was found to be the most contaminated (4.23 Log E. coli/g), and that consumption of salad exceeded acceptable health limits. Key risk factors identified for produce contamination were irrigation water and soil at the farm level. Storage duration and temperature of produce had a significant influence on the quality of produce sold at markets, while observations revealed that the washed water used to rinse produce before sale was dirty. The source of produce and operating with a hygiene permit were found to influence salad microbial quality at kitchens. This study argues for a need to manage produce risk factors at all domains along the food chain, though it would be more effective to prioritise at markets and kitchens due to cost, ease of implementation and public health significance.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A Farm to Fork Risk Assessment for the Use of Wastewater in Agriculture in Accra, Ghana
- Creators
- Prince Antwi-Agyei - Univ London London Sch Hyg & Trop Med, Fac Infect & Trop Dis, Environm Hlth Grp, Dept Dis Control, London WC1E 7HT, EnglandSandy Cairncross - Univ London London Sch Hyg & Trop Med, Fac Infect & Trop Dis, Environm Hlth Grp, Dept Dis Control, London WC1E 7HT, EnglandAnne Peasey - UCL, Dept Epidemiol & Publ Hlth, London, EnglandVivien Price - University of LondonJane Bruce - University of LondonKelly Baker - University of Iowa, Occupational and Environmental HealthChristine Moe - Emory UniversityJoseph Ampofo - Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchGeorge Armah - University of GhanaJeroen Ensink - Univ London London Sch Hyg & Trop Med, Fac Infect & Trop Dis, Environm Hlth Grp, Dept Dis Control, London WC1E 7HT, England
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- PloS one, Vol.10(11), pp.e0142346-e0142346
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0142346
- PMID
- 26556044
- PMCID
- PMC4640866
- NLM abbreviation
- PLoS One
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- eISSN
- 1932-6203
- Publisher
- PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
- Number of pages
- 19
- Grant note
- Sanitation and Hygiene Applied Research for Equity (SHARE) Research consortium through a UK aid from the Department for International Development (DFID)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/10/2015
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health; Epidemiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984214704402771
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