Consistent Organochlorinated Pesticides (OPC) Residues Contamination in Beans Consumed in Gombe Metropolis Nigeria

Most of the locally consumed beans in our vicinity contain excess chemicals of pesticides residues which are harmful to humans and environmental hazards to ecosystem. Investigation of this study revealed contamination level of organochlorine pesticides residues in dried beans originating from Nigeria with a view to controlling them, it also studies crude fiber of beans showed that B4 has the highest fiber content, 27.85% and the order of decreasing value as B4, B5 , B1, B3 and B2. The least percentage of crude fiber was shown by B2 in all the beans samples analyzed. This study also investigated the pesticides residue components of the organochlorinated pesticides test. The presence of pesticide residues in all 14 types of organochlorine pesticides in beans is lower than a previously reported level. Despite this, the amount of organochlorine pesticides tested is more than the permitted levels of 0.01 to 0.2 mg/kg, indicating that the beans consumed in the Gombe metropolis included pesticide residues beyond the permissible limit.

Direct pesticide exposure of insects in nature conservation areas in Germany

In Germany, the decline of insect biomass was observed in nature conservation areas in agricultural landscapes. One of the main causal factors discussed is the use of synthetic pesticides in conventional agriculture. In a Germany-wide field study, we collected flying insects using Malaise traps in nature conservation areas adjacent to agricultural land. We used a multi-component chemical trace element analysis to detect 92 common agricultural pesticides in ethanol from insect traps sampled in May and August 2020. In total, residues of 47 current use pesticides were detected, and insect samples were on average contaminated with 16.7 pesticides. Residues of the herbicides metolachlor-S, prosulfocarb and terbuthylazine, and the fungicides azoxystrobin and fluopyram were recorded at all sites. The neonicotinoid thiacloprid was detected in 16 of 21 nature conservation areas, most likely due to final use before an EU-wide ban. A change in residue mixture composition was noticeable due to higher herbicide use in spring and increasing fungicide applications in summer. The number of substances of recorded residues is related to the proportion of agricultural production area in a radius of 2000 m. Therefore, a drastic pesticide reduction in large buffers around nature conservation areas is necessary to avoid contamination of their insect fauna.

Temporal Evolution of Organochlorine Pesticides Residues in Kola Nuts (Cola nitida Vent Nuts. Schott & Endl.) Processing in Eastern of Côte d’Ivoire

Aims: The objective of this study is to monitor the evolution of organochlorine residues levels in kola nuts collected from various actors in the eastern producing region of Côte d'Ivoire. Study Design: Kola nuts samples were collected from farmers, collectors and urban stores in the Eastern of Côte d’Ivoire. Place and Duration of Study: Health Department of Hydrology Health and Toxicology, Training and Research Unit of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, running 2016-2019. Methodology: A total of 225 samples were analyzed using Gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (Agilent 7010B Triple Quadrupole GC/MS System). Results: Data showed that all 21 pesticides analyzed were detected in kola nuts samples. Statistical analysis indicated no significant difference in OCPs sub-group used by actors during the three-crop studied. The mean levels of HCHs, DDTs and cyclodienes were ranged from 5±1– 136.67±77.3 µg/kg FW, 5±1 – 116.67±63.2 µg/kg FW and 5±1 - 145±63.2 µg/kg FW, respectively. Otherwise, farmer’s levels of OCPs were lower than those detected in kola nuts from collectors and urban stores samples. Thus, compared to the MRL set by the World Health Organization/Food and Agricultural Organization, the farmer’s samples are lower than limits fixed, unlike the contents registered with collectors and urban stores. In the latter, nearly 80% to 100% of kola nuts collected are contaminated with hexachlorinated residues (HCHs) and heptachlor. Conclusion: There is the need to keep monitoring ecotoxicological chemical substances in kola nuts produced in Côte d’Ivoire and take steps that ensure health safety of end users. Care should be taken since residues could pose chronic health risk for adults and children.

Determination of Organochlorine Residues in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. WALP) From Selected Markets in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp) is one of the major stale plant protein food crops in Nigeria, but constantly being attacked by insects especially during storage. This has been a major production constraint which usually necessitated the use of synthetic pesticides and chemicals, but comes with the problems of high pesticides residues. In cowpea, only few information or research has been made as regarding the level of pesticides residues, therefore the objective of this study was to identify the awareness level and organochlorine insecticides residue presence trendy to cowpea grains. This study was carried out using a multiple choice questionnaire, in which three markets in Ibadan were selected as the case study due to their population and patronisation. The multiple choice questionnaire was used in getting information as regarding the pesticide used, method of application, duration of storage after pesticide application and level of awareness on the possible side effects of pesticides. Thirty samples of cowpea were collected from the selected three markets for residue analysis which was determined in an analytical laboratory using standard procedures. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that Fumigation, spraying and baiting were the mostly used method of application of pesticides and Aluminium phosphide, Betoxin and Quickphos were the mostly used pesticides during application. Higher percentage (56.67%) of the respondent store the food stuff for less than a month before exposing it to the market for sales, about 53.3% of the respondents shows their ignorance about the health hazard associated with pesticides. Organochlorine pesticide residues were detected in all the samples of cowpea grains examined with highest mean concentration of Endosulfan (0.7500 mg/kg 0.3508).

Targeted Multiresidue Method for the Analysis of Different Classes of Pesticides in Agro-Food Industrial Sludge by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Sludge generated after washing of fruits and vegetables during agro-food processes is a complex matrix and selective methods for the identification and quantification of pesticides’ residues are necessary in order to achieve a sustainable and effective management of the total sewage. The present work describes the development and validation of a reliable, simple and fast analytical method based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the determination of 47 pesticides of different chemical classes, including organosphosphates, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, triazoles and others, in sludge samples after QuEChERS sample preparation. The necessity of the individual steps of QuEChERS was investigated and the LC-ESI-MS/MS conditions were optimized to achieve maximum sensitivity of the target analytes. The method limits of detection (LODs) ranged between 0.0005 mg/kg (imidacloprid) and 0.05 mg/kg (beta cyfluthrin). The recoveries ranged between 71–120% and the repeatability of the method was ≤25% expressed as relative standard deviation. The method was applied to sludge samples generated after washing of fruits in an agro-fruit-packaging unit in Greece. The results showed the presence of 37 pesticides’ active substances with concentrations ranging from low ppbs, such as fludioxinil (5 μg/kg) up to low ppms such as beta cyfluthrin (3.5 mg/kg) and with their sum concentration reaching up to 19 mg/kg.