Persistent organochlorine pesticide residues in cocoa beans from Ghana, a concern for public health

Food Safety and Risk

Table 5 Summary of organochlorine residues (mg/kg) in cocoa beans analysed from the study area

Pesticides	Minimum	Maximum	Mean^a	SD^b	EU MRL^c	% Detected^d
Lindane (gamma-HCH)	0.03	0.05	0.04	0.01	1.00	18 (56.3)
Beta-HCH	0.02	0.03	0.02	0.00	0.02	16 (50)
Dieldrin	0.02	0.04	0.03	0.01	0.50	12 (37.5)
Aldrin	0.02	0.03	0.03	0.00	0.05	14 (43.8)
p,p'-DDE	0.02	0.03	0.02	0.00	0.50	11 (34.4)
p,p'-DDD	0.02	0.04	0.03	0.01		16 (50)
p,p'-DDT	0.04	0.05	0.04	0.00		20 (62.5)
Methoxychlor	0.02	0.04	0.03	0.01	0.10	10 (31.3)

ND Non-detected
Limit of reporting = 0.005 mg/kg
^aMean of mean values recorded for a pesticide residue for each sample site (mean ofsamples where residues were detected)
^bStandard deviation of samples where residues were detected
^cEuropean Union maximum residue limits for pesticides in cocoa beans
^dNumber (%) of samples with positive pesticide detections

ISSN: 2731-9245