Evaluation of Organochloro Pesticides in Chicken Meat in Tirana Market, Albania

Abstract

The study included the analyses of food samples taken from chicken meat with different origin collected between December 2007 and March 2008 in Tirana market (Albania). The detected organochloro pesticides were HCHs (a-, b-, g-, d-isomers), aldrine, endrine, dieldrine and DDT-related chemicals (o,p'-DDE; p,p'-DDE; p,p'-DDD; p,p'-DDT). The analysis was performed by gas chromatography electron capture detection. All the results were expressed on a fresh weight basis. The concentrations of organochloro pesticides in all samples were far below the EC regulation (2375/2001/EC) limits. Organochloro pesticides patterns from two types of chicken samples (imported and village chicken feed up in natural conditions) were compared using principal component analysis and were correlated with the organochloro pesticides patterns from two different potential contamination sources, industrial meat and growed up in natural condition meat. Moreover, three origin indices (concentration ratios of organochloro pesticide isomer pairs) were used to evaluate the suitability of these compounds as tracers to distinguish between the contamination arising from different sources. The evaluation of contaminant patterns permits the conclusion that the organochloro pesticides present in these samples are of different origin.