Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the presence of pesticides residues in wheat from Misha woreda, Haiya Zone, Ethiopia. Samples of wheat were collected during the period December 2015 to August 2016. Gas chromatograph (GC-MS) detection was employed after Liquid-Liquid extraction (LLE). The concentration levels of eight pesticides have been investigated in both wheat samples in farm and purchased from storage facilities. Since the method was out of scope, it was validated before application to the analysis of these pesticides. The spiked recovery results for five analytes were within the acceptable international standard. The LOD value and LOQ value are below the LCC and MRL of the analyte. Method validation for this study maintained a RSD <20% and percentage recoveries were in the range of 80-110%. The %RSD of all detected analytes was less than the acceptable international standard. Results show that out of the residues of eight analytes determined, four analytes (2,4-D; aldrin; Endosulfan; p,p-DDT) were detected in both field (pre harvest) samples and stored (post harvested) sample, whereas the remaining analytes were not detected at all. In general, the concentrations of these analytes in the wheat samples are in the order: 2, 4-D >aldrin>p,p-DDT >Endosulfan. The study observed that from the detected analytes, none of them are above the international MRL values and suggested that stringent monitoring of use of pesticides in agriculture and food storage is required. Key words: Pesticide residue, wheat, Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), method validation, maximum residue limit.
Highlights
Modern agricultural practices often include the extensive use of a wide range of pesticides for increased crop production as well as for greater yield by controlling pests (Nilufar, 2005; Ghosh and Philip, 2006)
Residues of eight targeted pesticides were detected in the analyzed samples, that is, α-HCH, 2,4-D,aldrin, Cyhalothrin, Endosulfan, Dielderin, Malathion and p,p-DDT
The discussion of the present study was focused on two areas, that is, quantitative evaluations of the pesticide residue results compared to the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) of the Codex Committee which is the standard that is supposed to be followed locally to protect the Ethiopian consumers
Summary
Modern agricultural practices often include the extensive use of a wide range of pesticides for increased crop production as well as for greater yield by controlling pests (Nilufar, 2005; Ghosh and Philip, 2006). In spite of the undeniable advantages that pesticides have brought to modern agricultural economy for controlling pests, they can generate a series of problems for untargeted organisms, if the necessary precautions are not taken during applications and storages (Abdulahi, 1997). Agricultural chemicals, while often benefiting farming productivity, can have determinable environmental effects when applied improperly. Pesticides and their potentially undesirable effects on the environment, aquatic organisms and human health has been one of the major concerns of recent research. Pesticides of 32 billion dollars have been marketed in the world (Lesan and Bhanderi, 2000)
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