Levels of festicide residues in poultry feed and products in selected poultry farms in Ilala and Kibaha districts, Tanzania

The aim of this study was to assess the levels of pesticide residues in poultry feed and products in selected poultry farms in Ilala and Kibaha districts, Tanzania. A total of 70 samples of poultry feed, chicken organs and eggs from six poultry farms were analysed for seventeen (7) pesticides and metabolites. Extraction was performed by solid dispersion method using cyclohexane/ethyl acetate. The extracts were cleaned up using florisil and eluted using cyclohexane/ethyl acetate. The extracts were cleaned up using florisil and eluted with cyclohexane/acetone. The analytes were determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The detection frequencies varied from 40% to 95.2%. The highest concentrations of the compounds in feed, chicken organs and eggs were as follows, respectively: total HCH 1.8, 10.4 and 5.76mg/kg; total DDT 4093.7, 2810 and 1897 mg/kg; total endosulfan 12.53, 499 and 66.5 mg/kg; aldrin 395, 46.5, and 3.6 mg/kg; dieldrin 451, 32.6 and 38 mg/kg; chlorpyrifos 486, 154 and 17.6 mg/kg; pirimiphos methyl 22.11, 108.1 and 80.6 mg/kg and fenitrothion 4.9, 22.4 and 17 mg/kg. the most frequently detected compounds were p,p’-DDD and pirimiphos methyl. Poultry feed were found to be most contaminated followed by kidneys, muscles, uncooked eggs, livers and finally cooked eggs. The total concentrations among the sampling sites ranked as follows: Kitunda˃ Banana˃ Nyumbu˃ Misugusugu˃ Picha ya Ndege˃ Kwa Mathias. Most of the concentrations were above the Maximum Residue Limis (MRLs) indicating risks and concerns.