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This study evaluated the potential health risk of OCPs in selected protein foods. A total of 66 food samples were collected from selected areas in Abeokuta, southwestern Nigeria. Food samples were analyzed for OCPs using the standard method. OCP data were analysed for descriptive and inferential statistics. Health risk assessment was conducted for non-carcinogenic {Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI) and Cancer Risk (CR)}. The ΣOCP concentration was observed highest in pork (42.20 ± 33.33 mg kg−1) of which methoxychlor and dieldrin represented 63 and 28%, respectively. The HIs of OCPs in protein foods were generally greater than 1.0 indicating adverse effects. The ΣCR data showed carcinogenic effects in protein foods with values greater than the acceptable limit of 1.0 × 10−4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are generally categorized as chlorinated cyclodienes, chlorodiphenylethanes, chlorinated benzenes and cyclohexanes. The presence of OCP residues in foodstuffs, water, soil, sediments, blood serum and air has generated a surge of global interest. This is due to their severe environmental and health ill-effects. OCPs are characteristically described as persistent and bio-accumulating substances prone to long-range transportation. The aim of this present study is to assess the environmental and health risks associated with OCP residues. Published works on OCPs in surface water, sediments and fish samples were reviewed. Possible non-carcinogenic (Hazard Quotient, HQ and Hazard Index, HI) and carcinogenic (Cancer Risk, CR) health effects of OCPs were assessed in fish samples. High concentrations of OCP residues were determined in environmental samples from African countries. The non-carcinogenic health assessment of OCPs in most fish samples from Nigeria revealed HI values greater than 1.0 establishing their adverse effects. The CR data of OCPs in fish samples also showed values higher than the permissible standard of 1.0 × 10−4 indicating possible development of cancer through fish consumption. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Environmental and health effects of Organochlorine pesticides were discussed. • The health risk assessment of OCPs in fish samples was evaluated. • The OCP levels in environmental media suggest a 'global issue of concern'. • The health risk data due to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey has multifaceted nutritional and medicinal values; however, its quality is hinged on the floral origin of the nectar. Taking advantage of the large areas that they cover; honeybees are often used as bioindicators of environmental contamination. The focus of the present paper was to examine the quality of honey from within the vicinity of an abandoned pesticide store in Masindi District in western Uganda. Surficial soils (< 20 cm depths) and honey samples were collected from within the vicinity of the abandoned pesticide store and analysed for organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues using gas chromatograph coupled to an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The mean level of ∑DDTs in all the soil samples was 503.6 µg/kg dry weight (d.w). ∑DDTs contributed 92.2% to the ∑OCPs contamination loads in the soil samples, and others (lindane, aldrin, dieldrin, and endosulfans) contributed only 7.8%. Ratio (p, p′-DDE + p, p′-DDD)/p, p′-DDT of 1.54 suggested historical DDT input in the area. In all the honey samples, the mean level of ∑DDTs was 20.9 µg/kg. ∑DDTs contributed 43.3% to ∑OCPs contamination loads in the honey samples, followed by lindane (29.8%), endosulfans (23.6%) and dieldrin (3.2%), with corresponding mean levels of 14.4, 11.4 and 1.55 µg/kg, respectively. Reproductive risk assessment was done based on the hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) procedure. In our study, the calculated HIs for adults (102.38), and children (90.33) suggested high potential health risks to the honey consumers. Lindane, endosulfan and p, p′-DDD detected in the honey samples at levels exceeding the acute reference dose (ARfD) are known risk factors for spontaneous abortion, reduced implantation, menstrual cycle shortening, impaired semen quality, and prostate cancer in exposed individuals and experimental animal models. [Display omitted] • OCP residues in honey and soil samples from within a store have been investigated. • Honey is highly contaminated with DDTs, lindane and endosulfan. • Soil is highly contaminated with DDTs. • Hazard indices suggest reproductive health risks to the consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]