benzodioxathiepin-3-oxide is still a pesticide of choice for most cocoa farmers in Southwestern Nigeria, in spite of its persistence, bio-accumulative, toxicological properties and restriction. A single-treatment of 1.4 kg ai/ha (0.5% ai) of technical grade endosulfan (Thiodan, 35EC) was applied to 0.0227 hectare of cultivated Theobroma cacao L. (Cocoa) farm at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN). Levels of parent endosulfan (α-, β-endosulfan) and major metabolite (endosulfan sulfate) were determined in vegetation and surrounding matrices at days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 and 60 using GC-MS. Their kinetic variables were determined. Order of ∑endosulfan distribution at day 0 was: dry foliage>fresh foliage>bark>pods>soil (0-15cm). No residual endosulfan was found in cocoa seeds and sub-surface soil (15-30 cm). Low residual levels in pods on day 0 may be due to endogenous enzymatic breakdown, with αisomer more susceptible and α/β-endosulfan ratio being 0.90. Fell dry foliage as mulch was predominantly the receiving matrix for non-target endosulfan sprayed. Volatilization was key in endosulfan dissipation between days 0 and 7 from foliage surfaces (> 60% loss), while dissipation trend were bi-phasic and tri-phasic for vegetation and soil respectively. ∑endosulfan loss at terminal day ranged between 40.60% (topsoil) and 99.47% (fresh foliage). Iteratively computed half-lives (DT ' 50) ranged from 6.48-30.13d for ∑endosulfan in vegetation. Endosulfan was moderately persistent in pods-a potential source for cross contamination of seeds during harvest. Iteratively determined DT ' 50 and initial-final day DT50 are highly correlated (R=0.9525; n= 28) and no significant difference (P=0.05) for both methods.

Most environmental analytical methods for the determination of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are multi-residual with other organic compounds co-extracted and co-eluted. This has been observed in GC spectra using classical detectors like electron-capture detector (ECD) even after appropriate clean-up. This limitation could be resolved by using GC-MS methods which are more specific and selective. Thus, a commercial-grade endosulfan treated Theobroma cacao plantation was sampled. Representative samples comprising leaves, stem bark and pulp were obtained between 0.5 h and 60 days after treatment. Samples were analyzed for residual parent endosulfan ( α- and β-isomers) as well as the metabolite endosulfan sulphate using an ion trap GC-MS. The retention times and chromatogram peaks obtained for various endosulfan were identified and compared with reference standards, and confirmed with National Institute of Standards and Technology library. Results showed that the molecular ion at m/z 407 was exhibited by α- and β-endosulfan, representing the parent molecular ion M+• ([C9H6Cl6SO3]+•). The α-isomer was more thermally stable, hence exhibited more relative abundance. Other predominant peaks were 339, 307, 277, 265, 243, 241, 207, 195, 160, 159, 99 and 75 m/z. The peak at m/z 159 was the base molecular ion. For endosulfan sulphate, the peak at m/z 422 corresponded to parent molecular ion (M+•), while m/z 424 was due to isotopic pattern characteristic of the chlorine atom. The peaks at 387, 357, 289, 272, 229, 206, 170, and 120 m/z were characteristic for the sulphate metabolite. The m/z peak at 272 was the base molecular ion, while m/z 143 may be due to metabolite diol and lactone. These results showed that the various endosulfan species can be identified and confirmed simultaneously using a GC-MS.

Background: Chloroquine, 4-N-(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)-1-N,-N-diethylpentane-1,4-diamine has promising activity against corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and as such, it is imperative to thoroughly understand and determine the rate at which individual body systems metabolizes the drug. Chloroquine a known antimalarial drug belongs to the chemical class of 4-aminoquinolines. Objectives: The study aimed to analyze Chloroquine and its metabolite in biological fluids of healthy subjects by simple thin layer chromatography (TLC), which is an efficient, and inexpensive method for quantifying Chloroquine and its metabolites. Methods: A total of 30 healthy volunteers participated in the study by ingesting 500 mg of chloroquine, and the results were compared with side effects experienced by these subjects. Two brands of Chloroquine phosphate were used for the analysis and the urine were collected pre and post-drug administration and the intensities of the spots observed were compared with the reference standard stock solution. The same or greater intensity of sample spot indicates poor metabolizer, less intensity when compared to the stock spot indicates intermediate metabolizer while a much lesser intensity indicates an extensive metabolizer. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the brands of chloroquine used at P<0.05. 30% of the volunteers were assigned poor metabolizer phenotype, 50% were assigned extensive metabolizer phenotype, and 20% assigned Intermediate metabolizer phenotype based on the intensity of spots observed. The majority of the poor metabolizers were females while the majority of the extensive metabolizers were males. Conclusion: Gender differences plays a vital the role in metabolism, therefore outine implementation of phenotype determination before therapy will therefore greatly improve the goal of therapy and quality of life. implementation of phenotype determination before therapy will, therefore, greatly improve the goal of therapy and quality of life.