Residues of organochlorine pesticides in honeys from different geographic regions

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are of concern due to their presence in foods. Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), chlordane and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in 38 honey samples from different geographic regions were analyzed with gas chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry after accelerated solvent extraction. Mean concentrations of total HCHs (SHCHs), SDDTs, Schlordanes, and HCB in tested honeys were 2.23, 1.14, 0.45, and 0.17 ng g–1, respectively. Concentration ranges of SHCHs, SDDTs, and Schlordanes and HCB were 0.21–8.70, 0.10–4.35, 0.02–3.75, and nd–1.16 ng g–1, respectively, in the 38 honey samples. Honey samples from developing countries generally contained higher concentrations of ΣHCHs, ΣDDTs, Σchlordanes, and HCB than those from developed countries. A comparison of the ratios of highest and lowest concentrations of ΣHCHs, ΣDDTs, Σchlordanes, and HCB in those honeys showed relative evenness of concentrations of the OCPs in honeys from developing countries and large variation in honeys from developed countries.