Determination of Pesticide Residues in cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) from Selected Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the level of pesticide residues in cocoyam (Colocasiaesculenta) from Mangu, Bokkos and BarkinLadi Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Nigeria.Cocoyam and soil samples were collected from two (2) farms each, from the study areas and analyzed for pesticides residues by gas chromatography equipped with electron capture detector.Fourteen (14) different pesticide residues were detected; HCB, p,p’-DDE, Endosulfans, p,p’-DDD, Glyphosphate, Dichlorvos, aldrin, Emamectin, Lindane, t-Nonachlor, 4,4-bypyridinium, Isopropylamine, g-chlordane, heptachlor. The concentrations of pesticide residues are in the range 0.0003-0.3579 mg/kg in cocoyam and 0.0001-1.1377 mg/kg in soil. Cocoyam samples, HCB (0.3579 mg/kg) had the highest concentration while t-nonachlor (0.0003 mg/kg) had the lowest concentration. In the soil samples analyzed, HCB (1.1377 mg/kg) was detected with the highest level while glyphosphate (0.0001 mg/kg) was found to have the lowest level. Cocoyam was found to contained the highest level of residues with HCB (0.3579 mg/kg) in BarkinLadi. Endosulfan, Lindane, t-nonachlor, Aldrin, glyphosphate and g-chlordane showed concentrations below the EU maximum residue limit (MRL), while HCB, p,p’-DDE, p,p’-DDD, Dichlorvos, Emamectin, 4,4-bypyridinium, Isopropylamine, and heptachlor showed concentrations above the EU maximum residue limit (MLR).The continuous consumption of such foods with high pesticide levels can accumulate and could result in detrimental chronic effects in the health of consumers. The statistical analysis showed that there is no significant difference between the individual concentrations and the concentrations at the different sample locations at P≤0.05.