**8. Conclusions**

This chapter has provided a comprehensive discussion of the sources of vegetables contamination in SSA and health reduction intervention approach that can be employed in preventing vegetable contamination. Many farming practices impacted positively and negatively on the health risk of vegetables produced in SSA, particularly in Mali. Generally, vegetables produced are contaminated by pathogenic bacteria, helminth eggs, heavy metals and pesticides. In addition to irrigation water and soil, possible sources of vegetables contaminations include the use of untreated organic manure. It is important to sensitise and train farmers to improve their knowledge in good agronomic practices in order to reduce microbial and chemical contamination of vegetables in the farm. Some of these practices could be the treatment of irrigation water, proper composting of manure and appropriate use of pesticides. These farm contamination reduction measures could complement disinfection of vegetables before consumption to save the health of vegetable consumers.

*Microbial and Chemical Contamination of Vegetables in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.107453*
