Organochlorine pesticide residues in dried cocoa beans obtained from cocoa stores at Ondo and Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria

摘要

Abstract Levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were determined in dried cocoa beans obtained from cocoa produce stores at Ondo and Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria. Cocoa beans samples were sun dried to a constant weight, pulverized and soxhlet extracted with dichloromethane to obtain the OCPs. Qualitative identification and quantitative evaluation of the extracted {OCPs} after clean-up on silica gel were accomplished with the aid of a Gas Chromatography coupled with an Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD). Levels of {OCPs} in cocoa beans from Ondo had a mean range of {ND} (p, p’-DDE) to 82.17 ± 54.53 ng/g (p, p’-DDT) were higher than the {OCPs} levels in cocoa beans from Ile-Ife with a mean range of 0.37 ± 0.63 ng/g (Endrin) to 57.76 ± 81.48 ng/g (p, p’-DDT). The higher levels of {OCPs} detected in the cocoa beans from Ondo could be an indication of higher volume of {OCPs} application by cocoa farmers in Ondo and its environs since cocoa plantations were more concentrated than Ile-Ife environs. Levels of {OCPs} determined in the cocoa beans were within the Maximum Residue Limit (MRLs) for {OCPs} set by the World Health Organization/Food and Agricultural Organization. The study established the presence of {OCPs} in an important crop of Nigeria. Hence, there is the need to keep monitoring ecotoxicological chemical substances in agricultural food products of Nigeria so as to take steps that ensure health safety of end users.