Monitoring of Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Insecticides and Chlorpyriphos Residues in Market Samples of Egg

Egg samples were collected from retail shops at Coimbatore commencing from November 2001 and continued at weekly intervals till March 2002. A gross sample of 10 eggs was purchased once in a week. The residue level in the poultry egg samples varied from BDL-0.031 µg/g. None of the samples were contaminated with γ and β-HCH. Residues of α-HCH was found in only one sample. Out of 18 weekly samples collected and analysed, o,p,-DDT were detected in only one sample (0.023 µg/g). Regarding country hen egg samples, two out of 18 samples were contaminated with endosulfan sulphate residues (0.008 µg/g) and only one sample with o, p’- DDT (BDL-0.046 µg/g). Out of 18 samples, 2 samples were contaminated with dieldrin (0.025 µg/ g). None of the egg samples was contaminated with any of the organochlorine and chlorpyriphos residues above the maximum residue limit (MRL)