ASSESSMENT OF ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN DRIED CASSAVA AND YAM CHIPS MARKETED IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Abstract

The presence and level of pesticide residue in dried cassava and yam chips sampled from four different markets in Southwest Nigeria were investigated. In both yam chips and dried cassava sampled, four organochlorine pesticides found include endosulfan I, methoxychlor, p,pʹ-DDT and endrin aldehyde and their concentrations ranged from 0.066 to 0.078, 0.064 to 0,159, 0.096 to 0.125 and 0.073 to 0.125 mgkg^{- 1} respectively. The result indicated that the dried cassava and yam chips were contaminated with four organochlorine pesticides mainly endosulfan I, methoxychlor, p,pʹ-DDT and endrin aldehyde. The mean concentrations of these organochlorine residues were above the EU maximum residue level for the food materials indicating risks and concerns to public health. There is needed for proper sensitization on the application of pesticides on food crops to mitigate associated problem of toxicity.