Animals intended for human food may absorb pesticides from residues in their feed, water or during direct/indirect exposure in the course of pest control. The objective of the present investigation was to monitor organochlorine pesticide residues in poultry feed, chicken muscle and eggs at a selected poultry farm. The samples were Soxhlet extracted for 8 h in 200 mL hexane-acetone (1:1, v/v) mixture. The clean-up of the samples was performed by silica gel column chromatography and analysis was done on a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. The mean total hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), endosulfan sulfate and heptachlor epoxide residues were 0.65, 0.91, 0.42 and 0.02 mg kg −1 , respectively, in feed while respective values for chicken muscle were 0.11, 0.24, 0.10 and 0.07 mg kg −1 . Higher residues were encountered in eggs as compared to muscle. None of the muscle samples exceeded maximum residue limits (MRL) for organochlorine pesticides, while all egg samples had values above the MRL for HCH and heptachlor epoxide and seven egg samples exceeded MRL for DDT residues. The results indicated that poultry feed could be one of the major sources of contamination for chicken and eggs. These residues are present despite complete ban on the use of technical HCH and DDT for agricultural purposes in India.

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The levels of organochlorine pesticides residues were determined in five freshwater fish species in Punjab State, India. These species were selected in view of their importance to local human fish consumer. DDTs were the predominant organochlorine contaminants in all species with pp DDT and pp DDE as the main pollutants. Other organochlorines, such as HCH isomers and dieldrin were also found at lower levels in fish species. The alpha-HCH was the dominant isomer of HCH in all fish species followed by gamma-, beta- and delta-HCH. The residues of aldrin, chlordane, heptachlor and endosulphan were not detected in any fish sample. The levels of organochlorines detected in present study were below the tolerance limits recommended at National and International standards.

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Residues of ethion were estimated in cucumber by gas liquid chromatography following three applications of the insecticide at 375 and 750 g a.i ha(-1). The average initial deposits of ethion on cucumber fruits were found to be 2.40 and 4.97 mg kg(-1) at single and double dosages, respectively. Residues of ethion dissipated below the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.5 mg kg(-1) in 7 days. Half-life (T1/2) for degradation of ethion on cucumber was observed to be 2.92 days at recommended dosage. A waiting period of 7 days is suggested for safe consumption of cucumber.

Three groups of buffaloes were fed with 20, 100 and 400mg of p,p'-DDT in their daily rations. The DDT residues in the milk fat of the treated animals showed an initial rapid rise but soon attained a dose-dependent equilibrium. The transfer coefficient of DDT residues in milk at 'plateau' levels showed an average value of about 12%. Half-life values for the rate of decline of DDT residues during the post-dosing period were computed according to a two-open-compartment model.