Occurrence of Organochlorine Pesticide (OCP) Residues in Chicken Skin, Liver and Muscle in Egypt

Abstract

This study was conducted for determination of organochlorine (OCPs) pesticide residues in muscle, skin and liver of chickens (laying hens). The examined samples were collected from three laying hen farms (white Hy- Line breed) in El- Dakahlia, El-Sharkia and El-Giza Governorates, Egypt. Five samples of each tissue were collected at 3 stages; start, peak and end, of egg production from the three farms with the total of 45 samples for each tissue type. The examined samples were extracted and prepared to organochlorine pesticide detection by gas Chromatography system equipped with electron capture detector (ECD). Exactly 14 of organochlorine pesticide residues were analyzed. The obtained results revealed that the Methoxychlor, PP-DDE, Dieldrin, Aldrin, Heptachlor epoxide and α-BHC residues were not detected in all the examined samples. Meanwhile, PP-DDT, PP-DDD, Endrin, Endosulfan, Heptachlor, Δ-BHC, ɤ-BHC (lindane) and ɤ-chlordane were detected in the examined samples in different concentrations. No considerable difference in organochlorine residues could be noticed either between the different Governorates or between the different stages of egg production. The results exhibited relatively higher levels of these residues in skin and liver samples comparing with those in the muscle samples.