Organochlorine insecticides (DDT and Heptachlor) in dry fish available in Bangladesh: Seasonal trends and species variability

Abstract

The concentrations of organochlorine insecticides DDT (Dichloro diphenyl trichloro ethane) and Heptachlor were investigated to estimate the current status of insecticides used in dry fish in different seasons and different species. Six most popular species of dry fishes namely Bombay duck (Loittya), Ribbon fish (Chhuri), Shrimp (Chingri), Hilsha shed (Ilish), Chinese pomfret (Rupchanda) and Indian salmon (Lakhua) were collected from Asadgonj (whole sell market for dry fish) of Chittagong, Bangladesh at different seasons, six samples at winter season (December) and six same samples at rainy season (July). The range of DDT concentration at winter was found 3.6 μg kg-1 to 250.8 μg kg-1 and at rainy season the range of concentration was found 11.1 μg kg-1 to 1107.4 μg kg-1. The range of Heptachlor concentration at winter was found 0.4 ug kg-1 to 2.5 μg kg-1 and at rainy season was found 1.1 μg kg-1 to 37.8 μg kg-1. The concentrations of DDT and Heptachlor were much higher in the samples of rainy season than the same samples of the winter.