Abstract:
Herbicides are a class of
pesticide compounds with a specific role in
weed control. Most herbicides have a positive
effect on crop production; however, they are
also harmful to the environment, animals, and
humans when misused. The aims of this study
were to identify commonly used herbicides in
Nigeria, examine the effects of herbicides
from the perspective of One Health (i.e., the
health of humans, animals, and the
environment), and increase public awareness
of the negative impact of herbicide misuse on
human, animal, and environmental health in
Nigeria. We conducted a systematic literature
search for this study using Google Scholar,
the Bielefeld Academic Search Engine
(BASE), Research Gate, and PubMed,
focusing on research studies conducted in
Nigeria. In total, 192 articles were included in
this review. Atrazine, glyphosate,
metolachlor, paraquat, and 2,4-D are the most
commonly used herbicides in Nigeria.
According to reports, some of these
chemicals inhibit plant photosynthesis and
disrupt the female luteinising hormone surge,
which disrupts ovulation. Moreover, these
chemicals can lead to negative outcomes,
such as headaches, oxidative stress, and
pollution. Only 1.0, 9.4, and 16.1% of the
studies examined the impact of herbicides on
human, animal, and environmental health,
respectively. Similarly, only 11 studies
(5.7%) investigated bioherbicide
development in Nigeria, and only 2.6% tested
for herbicide residues in crops. Nigeria
desperately needs public education regarding
the use of herbicides. One health intervention
is urgently needed.
