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A Critical Review of the Status of Pesticide Exposure Management in Malawi

Author

Listed:
  • Ishmael Kosamu

    (Department of Physics and Biochemical Sciences, The Polytechnic, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi)

  • Chikumbusko Kaonga

    (Department of Physics and Biochemical Sciences, The Polytechnic, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi)

  • Wells Utembe

    (Toxicology and Biochemistry Department, National Institute for Occupational Health, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa)

Abstract

Pesticides pose a significant risk to humans and the environment. This paper analyzes the measures used to manage pesticides in Malawi. Malawi’s regulatory authority of pesticides, the Pesticides Control Board (PCB), faces a number of challenges including lack of facilities for analyzing pesticides and inadequate personnel to conduct risk assessment of pesticides. The PCB needs to provide access to information and opportunities among the public to make contributions regarding requirements, processes and policies for assessing pesticide risk and efficacy. There is also a need to enhance the capacity of PCB to assess pesticide poisoning in workers, monitor pesticide residues in food and environmental contamination, as well as to control the illegal importation and sale of pesticides. Just like in other countries such as South Africa, India and Sri Lanka, Malawi urgently needs to implement measures that can restrict the importation, production, sale and use of very toxic pesticides. Malawi also needs to develop measures for the effective management of pesticide waste containers as well as obsolete pesticides, where potential solutions include reducing the purchase of (unneeded) pesticides, treatment of obsolete pesticides in high-temperature cement kilns, as well as requesting pesticide dealers to adopt life-cycle management of their products.

Suggested Citation

  • Ishmael Kosamu & Chikumbusko Kaonga & Wells Utembe, 2020. "A Critical Review of the Status of Pesticide Exposure Management in Malawi," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6727-:d:414017
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christos A. Damalas & Ilias G. Eleftherohorinos, 2011. "Pesticide Exposure, Safety Issues, and Risk Assessment Indicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Juliana Oliveira Pasiani & Priscila Torres & Juciê Roniery Silva & Bruno Zago Diniz & Eloisa Dutra Caldas, 2012. "Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Biomonitoring of Farmers and Residents Exposed to Pesticides in Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-18, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kgomotso Lebelo & Ntsoaki Malebo & Mokgaotsa Jonas Mochane & Muthoni Masinde, 2021. "Chemical Contamination Pathways and the Food Safety Implications along the Various Stages of Food Production: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-23, May.
    2. Sean D. Moore, 2021. "Biological Control of a Phytosanitary Pest ( Thaumatotibia leucotreta ): A Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-19, January.

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