Abstract:

samples of 56 volunteers comprising of 35 farmers and 21 non-farmers were collected from seven major agricultural communities and evaluated for different pesticide residues level. Samples were extracted using n-hexane/diethyl ether (1:1) and clean-up following the standard procedure method specified by USEPA and the residues concentrations were determined using GC coupled with 63Ni Selective Electron Capture Detector. The results obtained revealed that among the organochlorine residues detected in the farmers blood samples, DDE one of the metabolites of DDT is the most frequently detected with a mean concentration of 0.0338ng/g and a percentage distribution of 15.41% of the detectable residues. Chlorpyrifos showed the highest mean concentration of 0.0355ng/g among the organophosphorus residues detected. The results also revealed various residues contaminations in the blood samples of non-farmers indicating possible environmental contaminations resulting from indiscriminate use of agrochemicals in the catchment areas.