Organochlorine Pesticide Residue Levels in Parts of Watermelon Grown in the Ada-West District of Gre
The research included the use of a soxhlet system and a CP-3800 Gas Chromatograph fitted with a 63Ni electron capture detector to investigate the presence and levels of residues of organochlorine pesticide (OCP) in watermelon sampled sections. The study revealed the presence of 15 residues of OCPs from the selected communities in the Ada-West District of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana in the peel, pulp and seeds of watermelon. Most of the examined OCP residues were below the 0.01 μg/kg detection level. Dieldrin and p, p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene (p,p'-DDE) were recognisable OCP residues whose concentrations were above the detection limit.The highest level of 2.10 μg/kg of p'p-DDE was recorded in Koluedor watermelon seeds, while the lowest level of 0.20 μg/kg of dieldrin and p'p-DDE was recorded in Sege watermelon peels. The mean amounts of pesticide residues found in watermelon peels, pulp and seeds were also below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by the European Union (EU). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of residues of organochlorine pesticides due to ingestion of the studied watermelon ranged from 0.001 μg/kg to 0.006 μg/kg for children and from 0.0005 μg/kg to 0.003 μg/kg for adults. However the EDI values obtained were well below the recommended United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) reference doses (RFDs). Please see the link :- https://www.journalcsij.com/index.php/CSIJ/article/view/30194 [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]