Organochlorine Pesticides in Uganda: Environmental and Health Implication

Abstract

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are persistent, bioaccumulative organic compounds historically used in agriculture and vector control. Although many OCPs have been banned or restricted under international conventions, evidence from Uganda demonstrates their continued presence in environmental and biological matrices. This review synthesizes available data on the occurrence, distribution, and health implications of OCPs in Uganda, focusing on contamination in agricultural soils, river sediments, lake systems, food commodities, and human tissues. Measurable residues of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), aldrin, dieldrin, endosulfans, and related compounds have been documented in agricultural hotspots, aquatic depositional zones within the Lake Victoria basin, peri-urban environments, and areas surrounding obsolete pesticide storage sites. While dissolved concentrations in surface waters are often low, sediments and biota act as major sinks and secondary sources, facilitating food-chain transfer to households. Biomonitoring studies reporting OCP residues in breast milk and serum confirm ongoing human exposure, with disproportionate risks to vulnerable populations including pregnant women, infants, subsistence fishers, and farmworkers. Evidence also suggests continued inputs through weak regulatory enforcement, improper disposal of obsolete stocks, and the circulation of adulterated or banned pesticide products. Collectively, the Ugandan data indicate that OCP contamination remains a significant environmental and public health concern. Strengthened surveillance, improved enforcement, safer pesticide management, and integrated environmental-health research are urgently needed to reduce chronic exposure and protect vulnerable communities.