Evaluation of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Human Urine from Rural Population in Sudan

This study was conducted to assess the prevalent effect of organochlorines insecticide residues on randomized population sample from El-Hosh Town community, South Gezira. 36 human urine samples such as 12 from male, 12 from female and 12 from children were collected from randomized population samples. Residues of organochlorine pesticides were extracted by hexane and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). The results revealed that, only DDE was detected. DDE was detected in four out of 12 (33%) female and 3 out of 12 (25%) male urines in concentrations ranging between 4.64 – 5.31 ppm. No detectable residues of DDE were found in children. DDE concentrations in females (5.17 ppm) were higher than those in male urines (4.18 ppm). The results indicated that the DDE residues level were not associated with age or weight. Although the use of most of these compounds has been severely restricted more than thirty year ago, the presence of their residues indicate their characteristic of long term persistence.