Incidence of organochlorine pesticide residues in smokedried fish species marketed in South-West Nigeria

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been used extensively in fish preservation due to their low cost and efficacy to halt insect infestation. There is paucity of information on OCP residues in smoke-dried fish samples in the South- West zone of Nigeria and this necessitated the screening, elucidation and quantification of OCP in smoke-dried fish samples in this study. Fish samples were randomly obtained from markets in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Ondo States. These were extracted and analyzed for OCPs using GC-MS. The data obtained was subjected to Multivariate Analysis of variance (MANOVA) and the arising means separated using LSD test. The detected OCPs were DDT (0.001-0.077μg/ml), endosulfan (0.138-0.720 μg/ml), heptachlor epoxide (0.016-1.244 μg/ml), lindane (0.508μg/ml) and aldrin (0.030-0.491 μg/ml). Lagos State was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in DDT, endosulfan and heptachlor epoxide concentrations while Ogun State had higher aldrin concentrations. The estimated average daily intake (EADI) and hazard quotient (HQ), on the consumption of OCPs laden fish shows that heptachlor epoxide and aldrin concentrations exceeded the reference dose. The consumption of OCPs laden fish samples may result in adverse health complications due to OCPs toxicity. There is the need for the continuous sensitization of fishmongers to shun OCPs usage in fish preservation in the South-West.Keywords: Organochlorine; Pesticides; Smoke-dried; Fishmongers; Fish marketers