Survey of pesticide residues in maize, cowpea and millet from northern Cameroon: part I.
In northern Cameroon, the misuse of pesticides for pest control is common among small-scale farmers. Therefore, monitoring of pesticide residues was carried out on stored maize, cowpea and millet from eight localities. The determination of residues of organochlorines (lindane, α-endosulfan and β-endosulfan), organophosphorus compounds (malathion and pirimiphos-methyl), synthetic pyrethroids (permethrin) and carbamates (carbufuran) was performed using GC-ECD/NPD and GC-MS for confirmation. Organochlorine pesticides were detected more frequently and in higher concentrations, ranging from 0.02 ± 0.01 mg kg(-1) for β-endosulfan in millet to 9.53 ± 4.00 mg kg(-1) lindane in maize, than organophosphorus compounds, with concentrations varying from 0.04 ± 0.03 mg kg(-1) for pirimiphos methyl to 0.23 ± 0.38 mg kg(-1) for malathion in maize. Permethrin was found only in maize at 0.39 ± 0.23 mg kg(-1). No carbofuran was found. More than 75% of samples contained pesticide residues above the maximum residue limit (MRL); showing a potential human dietary risk related to consumption of these grains.
a Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition , ENSAI, University of Ngaoundere , PO Box 455 , Cameroon.
Jean
J
Sonchieu
Martin
M
Benoit Ngassoum
Jean
J
Bosco Tchatchueng
Ashutosh Kumar
AK
Srivastava
Laxman Prasad
LP
Srivastava
D002163:Cameroon; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008897:Panicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000737:chemistry*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000737:chemistry*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
D010573:Pesticide Residues; D010575:Pesticides
cereals and grain; pesticide residues