Organochlorine pesticides are a class of toxic compounds that are characterized by their relative chemical and biological stability, which is why they are persistent in the environment. As a result of this, organochlorine pesticides are listed as the highest level on the list of potential environmental hazards In this study, the levels of the pesticide residues (DDT, DDD, Dieldrin, Aldrin, dicofol, methoxychlor, endosulfan, chlordane, heptachlor, pentachlorobenzene, mirex, toxaphene, hexachlorobenzene, α-HCH, β-HCH, and γ-HCH) in river Donga, Taraba State, Nigeria were assessed using fish samples as a case study. Five fish species (Synodotismembranaceus, Protopterusannectens, Clariasgariepinus, Heterotisniloticus and Tilapiazilli) were purchased from the fishermen at bank of River Donga and was packaged into different labeled polyethylene bags. The fish samples were transported to the Biochemistry Laboratory Federal University Wukari in a Cold box with ice on the same day. All fish samples were kept in the freezer at 0-4oC. The fish samples were then washed with de-ionized water and were allowed to thaw at room temperature. The fish samples were dissected and filleted to obtain the fish flesh. The fillets were dried at ambient room temperature.50 g of the dried samples were each homogenized using a house-hold mill. An Agilent HPLC system was used for the LC analysis.The result showed that α-HCH, β-HCH, and γ-HCH were the most abundant pesticide residues in the fish samples. The result also showed that levels of α-HCH, β-HCH, and γ-HCH in Synodotismembranaceuscupside were above the maximum residue limits (MRLs). In conclusion, Pesticides are hazardous to human health and exposure to them could result to a number of illnesses ranging from dizziness, abdominal pain to cancers, still birth and hormonal imbalance.
Citation: Emmanuel C. Okoli, Otitoju Olawale1, Moses A. Abah1, Ozioma P. Emmanuel, David C. Bando, Zephaniah H. Shenia (2021) Ecological Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Fish Samples from River Donga in Donga, Taraba State, Nigeria, International Journal of Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Biotechnology Studies, Vol.6, No.2, pp.1-8
Keywords: Risk Assessment, maximum residue limits, pesticide residues, pesticides, residue concentration
