TITLE:
Monitoring of Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Fenitrothion Residues in Soils and Sediments in Sahel Using Carbon Fiber Microelectrode
AUTHORS:
Boukaré Kabore, Yibor Fabrice Roland Bako, Richard Ouedraogo, Sylvain Ilboudo, Samuel Pare, Issa Tapsoba
KEYWORDS:
Fenitrothion, 3-Methyl-4-Nitrophenol, Carbon Fiber Microelectrode, Soil, Sediments, Sahel
JOURNAL NAME:
Materials Sciences and Applications,
Vol.17 No.7,
July
31,
2026
ABSTRACT: Fenitrothion (FNT) is an organophosphate insecticide used to control locust infestations. Its most stable and toxic metabolite is 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (MNP). Several formulations of pesticides based on FNT were used in Sahel to control locust infestations. However, the concentration levels and persistence of FNT residues in soil and sediments remain unknown due to its high analysis cost, which is generally carried out using chromatographic methods. Previous works showed that electrochemical methods can be used to monitor FNT using carbon fiber microelectrodes. The main objective of this work is to determine the concentration levels and persistence of FNT residues in soils and sediments samples in the Sahel using carbon fiber microelectrodes during an agricultural campaign. The obtained results showed on the one hand that the concentration level of FNT residues varies from 6.56 to 346.50 µg/kg in soils samples and from 6.56 to 331.75 μg/kg in sediments and on the other hand that FNT did not persist beyond three months. These results showed that FNT did not persist from one agricultural season to the next and confirmed the rapid dissipation of FNT in Sahel ecosystems.