Original Articles
Devendra Kumar* and Raj Kumar
Abstract
Although pesticides are important not only for agricultural purpose but also in the management of vector borne diseases. But their widespread use has resulted long-standing effects on human health. The determination of the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in foods such as fruits and vegetables is our interest because of their toxic nature, persistence and tendency to bioaccumulate. In spite of the ban of DDT and HCH in India, these pesticides are still in use, both in domestic and agricultural purposes. In this research work we have tried to monitor residual concentration level of 19 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) including isomers of benzene hexachloride (α-BHC, β- BHC, γ-BHC, δ-BHC), heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, aldrin, γ-chlordane, endosulfan I + α-chlordane, dieldrin+p,p’-DDE, endrin, endrin aldehyde, endrin ketone, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate, p,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDD, methoxychlor and decachlorobiphenyl (DCBP) in two fruits (Asian pear and Kiwi) and three vegetables (Ridge gourd, Cauliflower and Bitter gourd) by using Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture Detector(ECD). Fruits (Asian pear and Kiwi) and vegetables (Cauliflower, Ridge gourd and Bitter gourd) were contaminated either with two or more organochlorine pesticides. However, the concentrations of detected pesticides were far below the maximum residue limit (MRL) values but continuous consumption of such fruits and vegetables can cause different diseases in human being.