Estimation and human health risk assessment of organochlorine and organophosphate pesticide residues in raw milk collected in Kenya

Abstract

Background: This study determined the levels of organochlorine (OCPs) and organophosphate (OPPs) pesticide residues in cow milk from Kiambu and camel milk from Isiolo and Laikipia. The human dietary intake and the potential consumer health risks were also evaluated. Methods: In total, 90 cow and 82 camel milk samples were collected and analyzed using gas chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy to determine the levels of OCPs and OPPs. The levels were compared to the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the Codex Alimentarius (CA), EU Pesticides Database (EUPD), and the United States Department of Agriculture. The estimated daily intake and chronic hazard quotient (cHQ) of the milk were also calculated. Results: Cow milk from Kiambu was contaminated with 11/18 of the evaluated OCPs and 13/14 of the evaluated OPPs while camel milk from Isiolo was contaminated with 9/18 of the evaluated OCPs and 9/14 of the evaluated OPPs. Camel milk from Laikipia was contaminated with 11/18 of the evaluated OCPs and 11/14 of the evaluated OPPs. The mean heptachlor value in camel milk from Isiolo was above the EUPD MRLs. The mean value of heptachlor in Camel milk from Laikipia was above the CA and EUPD MRLs. The cHQs for Disulfoton, Fenamiphos, and Methacrifos in Cow milk were above 1 for adults and children. The cHQs for Fenchlorphous and Profenofos in Camel milk were above 1 for adults and children. The cHQs for α-endosulphan, β-endosulphan, dieldrin, and heptachlor in cow milk was above 1 for adults and children while the cHQs for heptachlor in camel milk was above 1 for adults and children. Conclusions: The potential health risks from chronic dietary intake of cow and camel milk in Kenya cannot be excluded. The routine monitoring of organophosphate and organochlorine pesticide levels in milk is recommended to minimize risks to human health.

What are the challenges for implementing an “organic label” to camel milk?

“…Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) can be present in various environmental and food matrices for long periods after their use and trade ( 30 , 31 ). According to ( 32 ), the content of chlorinated pesticides in cow milk varies according to the lactation phase, sanitary condition of the udder, age of the animal, and number of gestations.…”

“…Wanjiku et al ( 31 ) determined OCP and OPP residues in camel milk in Kenya. The mean heptachlor concentration in several camel milk samples was above the MRLs of the EU Pesticides Database (EUPD MRLs) and the MRLs set by the Codex Alimentarius .…”

Organophosphate Pesticide Residues in Food Products in Kenya and their Chromatographic Detection: A Systematic Review

“…Compared to plant products, fewer studies have explored the contamination of animal food products with OP residues (Figure 2). However, some studies have detected OPs in cow milk (Atego et al, 2021;Wanjiku et al, 2022), camel milk (Wanjiku et al, 2022), camel meat (Mbaria et al, 2010), and beef (Mbaria et al, 2010). For example, Atego et al…”

“…In one study that compared residues in cow and camel milk, it was noted that cow milk is relatively more contaminated than camel milk. One explanation for this observation is that dairy farming is often carried out in agriculture-intensive areas where there is widespread use of pesticides (Wanjiku et al, 2022). Camels are kept by pastoralists, who do not practice large-scale agriculture.…”