Abstract:
Ethiopia is ranking ninth highest honey producer in the world and the leading producer of
honey and beeswax in Africa. Pesticide application in crops can contaminate soil, air, water,
and the flowers from which bees collect nectar for honey production, which may cause the
introduction of those toxic chemicals into the food chain, affecting human health. The main
purpose of this study was analysis of organochlorine pesticide residues in honey collected
from selected zone of southwest Ethiopia. An Experiments study was conducted and a total 22
samples were collected from 11 site selected in four different zones of southwest Ethiopia.
Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction (DLLM) was used to extract residues from the
honey samples and were investigated for the presence of nine organochlorine pesticide
residues by using Gas Chromatography with ECD. Out of the total samples analyzed, the
organochlorine pesticide residues were identified in samples collected from seven sites. Out
of the major harvesting time sample from Channa and minor harvesting time from Limmu
69.29% and 17.81% were contaminated with DDT. A total 9.09% of the honey samples
showed concentrations below the MRLs, 54.35 % of the honey samples exceeding the MRLs
and 36.36% the samples were free from measurable pesticide residues. Comprehensive
research into the effects of pesticides on honeybees and their products decline to which this
study targeted to contribute is important
