OCCURRENCE OF ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES IN SOILS AND FOODS FROM COTTON FIELDS AND RELATED HEALTH RISKS IN THE HAMBOL REGION (COTE DIVOIRE)

Abstract

Organochlorine pesticides derived from the chlorination of cyclic and/or aromatic hydrocarbons. But, due to their persistence in the environment and their bioaccumulation in the body leading health problems, they were banned from using.They have been widely used around the world in agriculture and public health in particular in Cote dIvoire. This study was aimed to determine the concentrations of organochlorine pesticides residues in soils and crops from Hambol region (Cote dIvoire) and to evaluate the potential carcinogenic risk based on the concentrations found.Organochlorine pesticides residues were determined in soils and crops in cotton fields by using an HPLC. Soil samples analysed showed the presence of five organochlorine pesticide residues namely DDT (ND - 0.39 µg/kg), lindane (ND - 0.972 µg/kg), α-endosulfan (ND - 0.481 µg/kg), β-endosulfan (ND - 0.435 µg/kg) and sulfate-endosulfan (ND - 0.44 µg/kg). In crop samples, no pesticides were detected. The concentrations of detected organochlorines in soil samples were less than United States and FAO maximum residues limits for agricultural soils. The cancer risk assessment and hazard quotient values are under 10-6 and 1. The risks related to farmer exposure to DDT and lindane from soil via ingestion, inhalation and dermal route is negligible.