Organochlorine Pesticide Residues In Different Brands Of Tea Available In Ethiopian Market And Their Potential Risk To Consumers

Abstract

Tea is the most commonly consumed beverage in the world, next to water. Outdated pesticides have been documented as one of the major problems in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia. DDT and endosulfan were detected in Jimma Zone The main objective of this study was to determine the most persistent organochlorine pesticides in different brands of tea and their potential risk to consumers. A total of nineteen different tea brands were purchased purposively from shops and supermarkets found in Jimma town and Addis Ababa city. Five organochlorine pesticide residues (Aldrin (0.1465 mg/kg), γ-Chloridane (0.167 mg/kg), DDT (0.2044 mg/kg), Endrin (0.3067 mg/kg), and Dibutylchlorepoxide (0.4089 mg/kg) were detected from domestic tea samples. And four organochlorine pesticide residues (Endosulfan Sulfate (0.258 mg/kg), Methoxychlor (0.458 mg/kg) and Dibutyl Chloridate (1.427 mg/kg)) were detected from imported tea samples. Average concentration of DDT is above the MRLs and Endosulfan Sulfate is below the MRLs established in China. The EDIs of γ- Chloredane and Endrin were greater than ADIs. The findings of this study pertaining to the detection of pesticide residues in tea from shops and supermarkets in Jimma towns and Addis Ababa city. This is an indication of the widespread or historical use of organochlorine pesticides in tea as they are stable in the environment for long period of time. Strict regulation of pesticide during production, importing, their sale, and for application in the field is important for Ethiopia