Evaluation of Pesticide Residues in Human Blood Samples of Agro Professionals and Non-Agro Professionals

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pesticide residues in human blood samples of volunteers related to Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas districts, Pakistan. The volunteers of both districts were divided into four groups on the ba- sis of their exposure period to pesticides i.e. Group A-5 to 9 years, Group B-10 to 14 years, Group C-15 to19 years and Group D-above 20 years. Out of total 188 volunteers, 145 volunteers (77.1%) were agro professionals and 43 volunteers (32.9%) were non-agro professionals. Chlorpyrifos, endosulfan, 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (p-chorophenyl) eth-ane (p,p'-DDT) and parathion residues were detected in many samples. The predominant pesticides found in blood samples of both district volunteers were chlorpyrifos (with highest mean concentration of 0.37 mg.kg-1 in the D group of Mirpurkhas) and endosulfan (with highest mean concentration of 0.30 mg.kg-1 in the D group of Hyderabad). The quantity of pesticide residues detected in some blood samples of agro professionals was found to be at the alarming level.