Pesticide Residues And Hepatitis Risk
Osesua Benjamin Anthony
Department of Science Education, Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi.
Malik Aminu Imonikhe
Department of Science Education, Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi.
Abubakar Hauwa’u Manga
Department of Science Technology, Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi.
Keywords: Organochlorine, organophosphorus, cancer, DDT, controls
Abstract
Serum samples of patients presenting with hepatitis and controls were compared with the view of determining the association between exposure to pesticide residues and hepatitis. Samples were obtained from fifty patients presenting with hepatitis in Federal Medical Centre Annex D/gari, and fifty control samples were also taken. Extraction of pesticide residues was done following the laid down protocol, and analysed using GC-MS model 6890N Agilent Technology coupled with micro electron capture detector. The results obtained revealed that 45 (90%) of the case population have no identifiable risk factor for hepatitis. The mean concentration of p,p1 DDT, o,p DDT, p,p1 DDE, o,p DDE, γ-HCH, aldrin and chlorpyrifos 0.088µg/L, 0.091µg/L, 0.080µg/L, 0.099µg/L, 0.073µg/L, 0.031µg/L and 0.088µg/L respectively were detected at elevated levels in case population. This study confirmed exposure to pesticide residues among the studied population and revealed significantly higher levels (p≤0.05) in case population than controls. Thereby, suggesting that exposure to pesticide residues may be a significant risk factor for hepatitis.