Analysis of endocrine disruptors in foods from dar es salaam markets

In this study ,Endocrine disrupting chemicals residues in 90 samples; comprising rice, maize grain, brown beans, spinach, egg plants, tomatoes, beef, dried fish (Labeo spp) and chicken collected from local markets Dar es salaam were determined. All samples were analyzed for their residual contents of p,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDE , Dieldrin, Endosulfan, Aldrin and Toxaphene. The samples were extracted; clean-up by Florisil column chromatography according to the US multi-residue methods (US FDA, 2000) and analysis was done on a gas chromatography equipped with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The results indicated that 45%, 33% and 42% of the examined rice, maize grain and brown bean samples, 42%, 40% and 58% of the examined spinach, egg plant and tomatoes samples and 45%, 71% and 60% of the examined beef, dried fish (Labeo spp) and chicken samples were contaminated with endocrine disrupting chemicals residues. However, thirteen samples were higher than MRL of FAO/WHO, 2006). DDTs and Endosulfan were the most noticed compounds, as they were detected at a high incidence. On the other hand, deldrin, aldrin and toxaphene compounds were only present in less than 10% of the analyzed samples. This study showed that with the exceptional of a few contaminated samples generally, the endocrine disrupting chemical residue levels were lower than those recommended by WHO limits and therefore pose little or no serious threat at all to consumers. It is therefore recommended that the national authority such as Tanzania Food and drugs Authority need to improve the technical capacity to monitor endocrine disrupting chemicals residues in foods from local markets and those imported in the country.