Abstract
Ninety-six human blood samples were collected from six locations that represent areas of intensive pesticide use in Sudan, which included irrigated cotton schemes (Wad Medani, Hasaheesa, Elmanagil, and Elfaw) and sugarcane schemes (Kenana and Gunaid). Blood samples were analyzed for organochlorine pesticide residues by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) equipped with an electron capture detector (ECD). Residues of p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), heptachlor epoxide, γ-HCH, and dieldrin were detected in blood from all locations surveyed. Aldrin was not detected in any of the samples analyzed, probably due to its conversion to dieldrin. The levels of total organochlorine burden detected were higher in the blood from people in the irrigated cotton schemes (mean 261 ng ml−1, range 38–641 ng ml−1) than in the blood of people from the irrigated sugarcane schemes (mean 204 ng ml−1, range 59–365 ng ml−1). The highest levels of heptachlor epoxide (170 ng ml−1) and γ-HCH (92 ng ml−1) were observed in blood samples from Hasaheesa, while the highest levels of DDE (618 ng ml−1) and dieldrin (82 ng ml−1) were observed in blood samples from Wad Medani and Kenana, respectively. The organochlorine levels in blood samples seemed to decrease with increasing distance from the old irrigated cotton schemes (Wad Medani, Hasaheesa, and Elmanagil) where the heavy application of these pesticides took place historically.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abbadi, K. H., & Elzorgani, G. A. (1981). Residues of DDT in soil of the Sudan Gezira. Egypt: 1st International Congress for Soil Pollution and Protection from Pesticides Residues, Zagazig University.
Abdelbagi, A. O. (2005). Levels of POPs chemicals in the environment and human exposure, consultancy report, Project: SUD/00014869. Sudan: HCENR.
Abdelbagi, A. O. (2006). Pesticide use and management in the Sudan. National workshop on insecticide resistance and its management. Khartoum: Federal Ministry of Health and WHO.
Abdelbagi, A. O., & Mohamed, A. A. (2007). Pesticide residues in the components of the Sudanese environment. Khartoum: A national workshop organised by the Sudanese Standards and Metrology Organization, SSMO.
Abdelbagi, A. O., Elmahi, A. M., & Osman, D. G. (2003). Organochlorine insecticides residues in Sudanese soil of intensive pesticide use and in surface soil of Qurashi pesticide store. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 11, 59–68.
Elamin, E. M. (1997). The development of integrated pest management in the Sudan: A historical perspective. In Z. T. Dabrowski (Ed.), Integrated pest management in vegetables, wheat and cotton in the Sudan: A participatory approach (p. 13). Wad Medani: FAO/ Government of the Sudan. Cooperative project, GCP/SUD/025/NET.
Elbashir, E. S. (1986). Future of cotton pest control strategies. In S. Elbashir, K. B. Eltigani, Y. M. Eltayeb, & H. Khalifa (Eds.), Crop pest management in the Sudan (pp. 233–241). Khartoum: Proceedings of a symposium held in Khartoum, Feb. 1978, Khartoum University Press.
Elbashir, A. M. (1998). Organochlorine insecticides levels in human blood samples collected from residents in areas of limited and intensive insecticides use in the Sudan. Sudan: M.Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum.
Elbashir, E. S., Eltigani, K. B., Eltayeb, Y. M., Khalifa, H., & Elbashir, S. (1986b). The package deal strategy of cotton pest control. In: Crop pest management in the Sudan. (Eds.). Proceedings of a symposium held in Khartoum, Feb. 1978. Khartoum University Press, Khartoum, Sudan, pp 107–114.
Elbashir, S., Eltigani, K. B., Eltayeb, Y. M., & Khalifa, H. (1986c). Crop pest management in the Sudan. In: Crop pest management in the Sudan (Eds.). Proceedings of a symposium held in Khartoum, Feb. 1978. Khartoum University Press, Khartoum, Sudan, pp 434.
Elmahi, M. A. (1996). The distribution of some chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide residues in the Sudanese soils. Sudan: M.Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum.
Elzorgani, G. A. (1976). Residues of organochlorine insecticides in some fishes and birds in the Gezira of Sudan. Pesticide Science, 7, 150–152.
Elzorgani, G. A. (1981). Residues of DDT in cotton seed after spraying with DDT and Torbidan. Pesticide Science, 6, 457–460.
Elzorgani, G. A., & Ahmed, M. M. (1981). Residues in cotton seed oil and cake resulting from the combined application of DDT and Dimethoate. IAEA TEC-DOC, 29, 243–253.
Elzorgani, G. A., & Ali, M. T. (1981). An indicator fish for monitoring DDT pollution in the Nile. Khartoum: The 3rd Annual General Meeting of the African Association of Insect Scientist (AAIS).
Elzorgani, G. A., & Musa, A. (1976). Organochlorine insecticides in the blood of occupationally people in Sudan. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 16, 15–17.
Gannon, N., & Bigger, J. H. (1958). The conversion of aldrin and heptachlor to their epoxides in soil. Journal of Economic Entomology, 51, 1–7.
Mackay, D., Shiu, W. Y., & Ma, K. C. (1997). Illustrated handbook of physical-chemical properties and environmental fate for organic chemicals, Pesticide chemicals (Vol. V). Boca Raton: Lewis Publishers. 812 p.
Mahugija, J. A. M., Henkelmann, B., & Schramm, K. W. (2015). Levels and patterns of organochlorine pesticides and their degradation products in rainwater in Kibaha Coast Region, Tanzania. Chemosphere, 118, 12–19.
Matsumura, F. (1985). Toxicology of insecticides. NY: Plenum Press.
Mishra, K., Sharma, R. C., & Kumar, S. (2012). Contamination levels and spatial distribution of organochlorine pesticides in soils from India. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 76, 215–225.
Nakata, H., Kawazoe, M., Arizono, K., Abe, S., Kitano, T., & Shimada, H. (2002). Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl residues in foodstuffs and human tissues from China: status of contamination, historical trend, and human dietary exposure. Archive of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 43, 473–480.
Nesr, G. A. A. (2007). Studies of pesticide residues in the Nile waters in the Sudan. Ph.D. thesis, Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Park, J. S., Shin, S. K., Kim, W. I., & Kim, B. H. (2011). Residual levels and identify possible sources of organochlorine pesticides in Korea atmosphere. Atmospheric Environment, 45, 7496–7502.
Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC). (2004). Procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in the international trade. Text and annexes. Rome: UNEP and FAO.
Sharma, C. M., Rosseland, B. O., Almvik, M., & Eklo, O. M. (2009). Bioaccumulation of organochlorine pollutants in the fish community in Lake Arungen, Norway. Environmental Pollution, 157, 2452–2458.
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (2004). Text and annexes. UNEP and FAO. Rome, Italy.
Taha, M. E. M., El-Zorgani, G. A., El-Hassan, A. M., & Salghi, R. (2013). Evaluation of organochlorine pesticide residues in human urine from rural population in Sudan. Journal of Materials and Environmental Science, 4(6), 987–7992.
Tewari, S. N., & Sharma, I. C. (1977). Isolation and determination of chlorinated organic pesticides by thin-layer chromatography and the application to toxicological analysis. Chromatography, 131, 275–284.
Torres, J. P. M., Pfeiffer, W. C., Markowitz, S., Pause, R., Malm, O., & Japenga, J. (2002). Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in soil, river sediment, and fish in the Amazon in Brazil. Environmental Research Section A, 88, 134–139.
Wania, F., & Mackay, D. (1996). Tracking the distribution of persistent organic pollutants. Environmental Science and Technology, 30, 390A–396A.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Elbashir, A.B., Abdelbagi, A.O., Hammad, A.M.A. et al. Levels of organochlorine pesticides in the blood of people living in areas of intensive pesticide use in Sudan. Environ Monit Assess 187, 68 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4269-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4269-0