Persistent organochlorine pesticide residues in animal feed

Abstract

Animal products like milk and meat are often found to be contaminated with residues of persistent pesticides and other toxic substances. The major source of entry of these compounds to animal body is the contaminated feed and fodder. So, unless the residues are managed at this stage, it is very difficult to prevent contamination in milk and meat. Therefore, the status of residue level of most persistent organochlorinated pesticides (OCP) in feed and fodder should be monitored regularly. The frequency of occurrence and contamination levels of OCP residues in different kinds of animal concentrate feed and straw samples collected from Bundelkhand region of India were determined. Out of 533 total samples, 301 i.e. 56.47% samples were positive containing residues of different OCPs like hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) complex, endosulfan and dicofol. Among different HCH isomers, the mean concentration of β-HCH was highest, and total HCH varied from 0.01 to 0.306 mg kg(-1). In case of DDT complex, i.e. DDD, DDE and DDT, the concentration ranged between 0.016 and 0.118 mg kg(-1) and the pp(|) isomers were more frequently encountered than their op(|) counterparts. Endosulfan was also found in some samples in concentration ranging from 0.009 to 0.237 mg/kg, but dicofol could be recorded in very few samples. Although feed samples were found to contain OC residues, after comparing their levels in positive samples with the limiting values of respective pesticides, only very few were found to exceed the threshold level. Otherwise, they were mostly within safe limits.

Pesticide Residues in Bovine Milk in Punjab, India: Spatial Variation and Risk Assessment to Human Health

“…In our earlier study, p,p 0 DDE, p,p 0 DDT, and p,p 0 DDD residues have been reported in human breast milk samples from this region (Bedi et al 2013). In this study, the occurrence of endosulfan residues could be due to the presence of endosulfan residues in animal feed and fodder because contamination of animal feed has been reported earlier by many investigators (Deka et al 2004;Nag and Raikwar 2011).…”

Pesticide residues in milk and their relationship with pesticide contamination of feedstuffs supplied to dairy cattle in Punjab (India)

“…Cheema et al (2004) have also reported the presence of chlorpyrifos in 6.7% of milk samples collected from Punjab (India), and concentrations in all of these samples exceeded MRL values. In some previous reports from India, animal concentrate feed samples were found to be positive for endosulphan sulphate, chlorpyrifos, phorate, monocrotofos, dimethoate, diazinon, carbaryl p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT isomers residues Nag and Raikwar, 2011).…”

Assessment of ecological risks of agrochemicals requires a new framework.

“…Agrochemicals that bioaccumulate should not be considered for registration in the first place, given the problems they cause, as the dark history of organochlorines and chlorfluazuron insecticides has demonstrated. Such chemicals are still present in agricultural soils [89] and are being transferred to animal tissues [90][91][92].…”