Residues of pesticides and metabolites in chicken kidney, liver and muscle samples from poultry farms in Dar es Salaam and Pwani, Tanzania

The concentrations of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides and metabolites were investigated in chicken kidney, liver and muscle samples obtained from chickens collected from four poultry farms in Dar es Salaam and Pwani regions in Tanzania. The samples were extracted by solid dispersion using cyclohexane:ethyl acetate. The extracts were cleaned by adsorption column chromatography. The analytes were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The concentrations of total DDT, total endosulfan and total HCHs in the samples ranged from 0.71 to 26, 0.3 to 7.9 and 0.02-10.4 mg/kg lipid weight (lw), respectively. The highest concentrations of aldrin, dieldrin, chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion and pirimiphos methyl were 5.5, 4.8, 9.7, 5.6 and 7.8 mg/kg lw, respectively. The highest concentrations of the contaminants were found in the kidney and liver samples. The sites in Dar es Salaam showed the highest concentrations of the compounds. Most of the concentrations were above the maximum residue limits (MRLs) indicating risks and concerns for livestock and public health.