Detection of organochlorine, organophosphorus and synthetic pyrethroid residues in pork, chicken, fish and fishpond water samples.

Abstract

Pesticides are chemicals used in agriculture to protect crops against insects, fungi, weeds, pests and to protect public health by vector control such as mosquitoes. But pesticides are potentially toxic to humans. They may induce adverse health effects including cancer, effects on reproduction, immune or nervous systems. A study was conducted to detect organochlorine (DDT, HCH and cyclodiene compounds), organophosphorus (Methyl-Parathion, Malathion, Chlorpyrifos and Methyl-Chlorpyrifos) and synthetic pyrethroid (Cypermethrin and Deltamethrin) residues in pork, chicken, fish and fish pond water samples collected from different regions of Andhra Pradesh by Gas Chromatography (GC). All the Organochlorine pesticides (OCP), Organophosphorus pesticide (OPP) residues detected in pork, chicken, fish and fish pond water samples were quite low and well below the maximum residue levels (MRLs) specified by different national and international regulatory bodies. We could not detect the selected synthetic pyrethroids (SYPs) in any of the samples.