An African Approach for Risk Reduction of Soil Contaminated by Obsolete Pesticides

Since the 1950s, large amounts of pesticides were shipped to Africa for locust control, but did not arrive at the proper place or proper time thereby rendering them obsolete. Stockpiles of these pesticides have created a serious problem and The Africa Stockpiles Programme (ASP), launched by FAO, is designed to rid Africa of stockpiles and to dispose of them in an environmentally sound manner (ASP, 2009). From July to August 2007, an investigation mission was organized by FAO pesticide management programme, in collaboration with Wageningen University and Research Centre and the relevant national counterpart institutions of the Ministries of Agriculture and the Ministries of Environment in Mali and Mauritania. During the investigation, three sites in Mali and three sites in Mauretania were visited in the summer of 2007. High concentrations of pesticides were found in soils on the stockpiles. From a riskbased point of view, contaminations are only a risk if they are or may become available. Based on the results obtained and results of analysis of the samples taken, risk reduction proposals have been developed. All proposals are based on stimulation of the possibilities of biological degradation of the pesticides in combination with isolation and preventing rain water from transporting the pesticides. The results were discussed in May 2008 and the first implementation was started in Molodo (Mali) in July 2008

An African Approach for Risk Reduction of Soil Contaminated by Obsolete Pesticides

Since the 1950s, large amounts of pesticides were shipped to Africa for locust control, but did not arrive at the proper place or proper time thereby rendering them obsolete. Stockpiles of these pesticides have created a serious problem and The Africa Stockpiles Programme (ASP), launched by FAO, is designed to rid Africa of stockpiles and to dispose of them in an environmentally sound manner (ASP, 2009). From July to August 2007, an investigation mission was organized by FAO pesticide management programme, in collaboration with Wageningen University and Research Centre and the relevant national counterpart institutions of the Ministries of Agriculture and the Ministries of Environment in Mali and Mauritania. During the investigation, three sites in Mali and three sites in Mauretania were visited in the summer of 2007. High concentrations of pesticides were found in soils on the stockpiles. From a riskbased point of view, contaminations are only a risk if they are or may become available. Based on the results obtained and results of analysis of the samples taken, risk reduction proposals have been developed. All proposals are based on stimulation of the possibilities of biological degradation of the pesticides in combination with isolation and preventing rain water from transporting the pesticides. The results were discussed in May 2008 and the first implementation was started in Molodo (Mali) in July 2008

Approche cartographique de l'évolution du trait de côte dans l'estuaire de la Casamance

Cette étude propose une approche cartographique et statistique qui permet de calculer les taux de variation historique du trait de côte avec le plug-in DSAS dans la partie nord de l'estuaire de la Casamance au Sénégal. Pour ce faire, une méthode statistique d'extrapolation et de calcul de tendances est mise en place, basée sur le traitement des images satellitaires Landsat acquises entre 2004 et 2019. Cette méthode a permis d'obtenir une représentation cartographique et graphique des résultats statistiques sur l'évolution du trait de côte de l'estuaire nord de la Casamance

Insecticide resistance in Anopheles arabiensis populations from Dakar and its suburbs: role of target site and metabolic resistance mechanisms

Abstract Background Urban malaria is an increasing concern in most of the sub-Saharan Africa countries. In Dakar, the capital city of Senegal, the malaria epidemiology has been complicated by recurrent flooding since 2005. The main vector control measure for malaria prevention in Dakar is the community use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets. However, the increase of insecticide resistance reported in this area needs to be better understood for suitable resistance management. This study reports the situation of insecticide resistance and underlying mechanisms in Anopheles arabiensis populations from Dakar and its suburbs. Results All the populations tested showed resistance to almost all insecticides except organophosphates families, which remain the only lethal molecules. Piperonil butoxide (PBO) and ethacrinic acid (EA) the two synergists used, have respectively and significantly restored the susceptibility to DDT and permethrin of Anopheles population. Molecular identification of specimens revealed the presence of An. arabiensis only. Kdr genotyping showed the presence of the L1014F mutation (kdr-West) as well as L1014S (kdr-East). This L1014S mutation was found at very high frequencies (89.53%) in almost all districts surveyed, and in association with the L1014F (10.24%). Conclusion Results showed the contribution of both target-site and metabolic mechanisms in conferring pyrethroid resistance to An. arabiensis from the flooded areas of Dakar suburbs. These data, although preliminary, stress the need for close monitoring of the urban An. arabiensis populations for a suitable insecticide resistance management system to preserve core insecticide-based vector control tools in this flooded area