Organochlorine Pesticides in Callinectes Pallidus (Rochebrune, 1883) and Penaeus Monodon (Fabricius, 1798) from Lagos Lagoon and Badagry Creek, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Pesticides in Callinectes Pallidus (Rochebrune, 1883) and Penaeus Monodon (Fabricius, 1798) from Lagos Lagoon and Badagry Creek, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria 1. IntroductionWidespread use of organochlorine pesticides in agriculture and homes despite their known harmful effects is causing serious concern about human health and environment. Some of these have been banned worldwide due their persistence and their bio accumulative nature. One such group of organochlorine has been classified as persistent organic pollutants (POP). Organochlorine pesticides (OCP) are one of the most important persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) and have been of great concern around the world owing to their chronic toxicity, persistence and bio accumulation. OCPs such as DDT, Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH), Chlordanes (CHLs), Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin, Endrin Aldehyde, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Endosulfan I, Endosulfan II, Endosulfansulfate and Methoxychlor are only slightly soluble in water and highly resistant to degradation by biological, photochemical or chemical means, and their residues may persist in soil, aquatic sediment, and biomagnified in food web. In May 1995, UNEP recognized the POPs as an imminent danger to human health and made a short list of twelve POPs, commonly known as dirty dozen. In some cases, when they breakdown they form metabolites that are also toxic to aquatic life. Six more chemicals including isomers of HCH and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been added to the dirty dozen. These chemicals are also harmful and bio-accumulative in nature. Isomers of HCH act as stimulants and central nervous depressants. Due to their to lipophilicity and persistence, isomers of HCH frequently accumulate in human adipose and breast tissue. Human studies have shown that exposure to HCHs is linked to cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, reproduction and fertility disruption (Chevrier et al., 2008).Exposure to organochlorine pesticides can occur in several ways, such as via contaminated air, water or through the skin in countries where they are still used. However, the primary exposure route to people in developed nations (where organochlorines are no longer used) is through contaminated food. The most contaminated foods typically include oily fish