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Excessive application of pesticides for preservation of stored food has left in its wake residues of pesticides in diverse agricultural products and are now considered the leading cause of different health hazards in humans. In this research residual pesticide analysis in stored maize and beans were carried out in the last quarter of the year 2022 and the first quarter of the year 2023. A quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) method was used to extract the pesticide residues from maize and beans. The grain markets of Iware, Jalingo, and Zing, were selected sites for collection of stored maize and beans. The samples were analyzed for eleven (11) organochlorine compounds for pesticide residues using Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry technique. The pesticide residue level and the hazard index compared with EU . established MRL (maximum residue level) for pesticides. All the samples were found to contain pesticide residues, many of which have values above the EU standard. Residual pesticides investigated include, Delta Lindane, Alpha Lindane, Beta Lindane, Gamma Lindane, Heptachlor, Aldrin, Heptachlor epoxide, Endosulfan I., P, P' – DDE, Endrin, Endosulfan II, P, P' – DDD, P, P' – DDT and Methoxyclor. The results show that the mean concentration of these organochlorines pesticide detected were higher with respect to endosulfan I, having a concentration of 2.39 ppm, Aldrin, 1.74 ppm, and methoxychlor 1.10 ppm. Some of these concentrations are at an alarming level, somewhat much higher than the maximum residue limits (MRLs). This research findings suggest the ban on use of organochlorine pesticides for crop cultivations are not adhered to.
Abare-Jen et al. (Sun,) studied this question.