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Page No. : 119-122

ABSTRACT

Endosulphan is a cyclodiene organochlorine insecticide used for pest control in agriculture; however, contamination of human food supply with endosulphan residues has public health implications. Animal feed and fodder in particular constitutes major source of contamination of animal origin foods such as milk and meat. Hence, animal feed and fodder samples were collected from different locations of Tarai or Kumaon regions of Uttarakhand and screened for endosulphan residues using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Of the total 40 feed samples analyzed, endosulphan residues were detected in 40% of samples with mean residual concentration of 0.402 (endosulphan α), 0.147 (endosulphan β) and 0.373 μg/g (endosulphan sulphate). Whereas, out of 25 fodder samples analyzed, 44% contained endosulphan α and sulphate residues with mean residual concentration of 0.225 and 0.248 μg/g, respectively. About 22.5% of feed samples contained endosulphan residues above the prescribed maximum residue limit. This cross-sectional study showed contamination of animal feed and fodder samples with the endosulphan residues. Keeping in view the potential migration of endosulphan residues across the food chain, need for creation of awareness among farmers about the harmful effects of pesticides and their judicious use was emphasized.

Keywords: Endosulphan, feed, fodder, pesticide, residue