Analysis for Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Honey from Kabale District, South-Western Uganda
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Journal of Analytical Chemistry
Abstract
This study was motivated by the reported accumulation of Organochlorine
Pesticides (OCPs) residues in the various environmental matrices within
Uganda, resulting from their use in agriculture and health sectors. This raised
a concern of the likelihood of the accumulation of the OCPs residues in the
honey produced within the country which would affect its purity as well as
quality and consequently its competition on the world market. Sixty representative
honey samples were collected from selected local beekeepers from
four sampling stations in Muko sub-county, Kabale, and extracted for OCPs
using a solid-phase procedure followed by a florisil column packed clean-up
method and Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD)
analysis. Confirmation of the selected samples was done using an Agilent
(6890N, USA) gas chromatograph combined with a mass spectrometer. Recoveries
of spiked samples ranged from 71% to 96%, except for pp-DDE
(54%), with relative standard deviations from 2% to 14% in terms of repeatability,
and from 4% to 17% in terms of reproducibility. Limits of quantification
were from 0.003 to 0.1 mg∙kg−1. Endosulfan sulfate was the most frequently
detected in 38% of the samples, followed by HexaChloroBenzene
(Lindane) in 21% of the samples. Residues of DDT and their metabolites were
detected in 17% of the samples. Mean concentrations of the pesticide residues
detected range from ND (not detected) to 1.53 μg/Kg. The acceptable Maximum
residual limits (MLRs) are 200 - 300 μg∙kg−1 fresh weight for dieldrin,
500 μg∙kg−1 for DDT and break down products, and 50 μg∙kg−1 wet weight for
Lindane (WHO/FAO 2011). Results indicate that the levels of OCP residues
detected in honey from the country’s South Western District of Kabale were
within the acceptable limits, and hence this honey was safe for human consumption.
Description
Keywords
Persistent Organic Pollutants, Organochlorine Pesticides, Metabolites, Kabale District, Honey
Citation
Ntirushize, B., Wasswa, J., Ntambi, E. and Adaku, C. (2019) Analysis for Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Honey from Kabale District, South-Western Uganda. American Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 10, 476-487. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajac.2019.1010034