Level of Organochlorine Pesticides Residue in Fish, Water and Sediment in Biu Dam (Reservoir) Borno State Nigeria

The health risks posed by organochlorine compounds to the total environment have continued to elicit concern among researchers in developing countries worldwide. Hence, this study focused on investigating the levels of Organochlorine pesticides residues in water sediment and fish samples in Biu dam reservoir. The pesticides residues in the fish and sediment samples were extracted by soxhlet extraction process using a mixture of n-hexane and acetone while water sample was extracted using dichloromethane liquid- liquid extraction method. The extracts were cleaned and analysed using a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GCMS) equipped with electron capture detector. Endrin, aldrin, dieldrin, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, alpha BHC and heptachlor were detected in the study area. While chlordane, methoxychlor, other isomers of BHC, DDT and its degradation products were not detected in all the samples analysed. Endrin had the highest value of 14.758 mg/Kg in catfish while the lowest endrin value of 0.017mg/Kg was found in sediment. The findings provide evidence of pollution of some the organochlorine pesticides residue in Biu dam reservoir which is slightly contaminated with organochlorines pesticide. Therefore serious need for the monitoring of these pesticide residues in water, sediments, fish and the environment, as this will go a long way towards preventing various environmental and public health hazards.