Assessment of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides in various meats samples of maharashtra-india using gas chromatography

Abstract

Chronic pesticide toxicity, recognized as a major health hazard in human food chain, comprises of foods from animal source. Devising analytical methods for estimating pesticide residues will help to monitor the status of these contaminants in animal source foods. In this study, two pesticide groups viz., organochlorine (OC) and organophosphorus (OP) compounds were selected to detect pollutants in various meat samples. To detect these pesticides gas chromatography (GC) method was used, standardized and validated. Validation studies on meat samples included accuracy, precision, linearity, limit of detection and quantification. A total of 240 numbers of meat samples of chicken, buffalo, sheep/goat and pig were collected from three different regions of Maharashtra and used in validation studies. The mean concentration of DDT residues in the chicken, buffalo, sheep/goat and pig meat was found to be 27.34, 10.67, 76.33 and 44.12 pg/kg, respectively. Mean concentration of HCH residues in chicken and pig meat was found to be 7.50 and 112.20 pg/kg, and was not detected in buffalo and sheep/goat meat. Mean concentration of Endosulfan and Aldrin residues in chicken, buffalo and sheep/goat meat were found to be 51.09, 23.18, 211.37 pg/kg and 111.48, 81.85, 54.79 pg/kg, respectively. Chlorpyrifos was not detected in any of the meat samples collected. However, the values of pesticide residue concentration in all the 240 nos. of meat samples were found to be below the MRLs values set by Codex Alimentarius Commission and European Commission Regulation (EC) No. 149/2008. Therefore, it is concluded that the standardized GC method can be used for the detection of pesticides in different matrices.