QUANTIFICATION OF SOME PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FRESH PEPPER FROM SELECTED FARMS IN LEMU, GBAKO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study quantifies some pesticide residues (Organochlorine (OCP) and Synthetic pyrethroids (SPP) concentrations in fresh Pepper (Capsicum annum) from selected farms in Lemu, Gbako Local Government area of Niger state, Nigeria using a modified QuEChERS method for sample preparation and GC-MS analysis. The results indicate the presence of OCP and SPP residues includes: Heptachlor, Aldrin, Dieldrin, Heptachlor epoxide, Endosulfan II and Endosulfan sulfate; Lambda-cyhalothrin, β-Cypermethrin and zeta-Cypermethrin with concentrations of 1.33 mg/kg, 1.55 mg/kg, 0.33 mg/kg, 0.22 mg/kg,1.31 mg/kg,0.45 mg/kg and 1.00 mg/kg, 1.29 mg/kg and 1.08 mg/kg. All the detected OCPs were above the MRLs. Indeed, these concentrations of both the organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides detected in the pepper sample analysed were observed to be slightly above the MRLs by the Codex 2022 (WHO and FAO), although the difference may not be too significant and hence, it does not pose a serious danger.