Lw Kanja

A comparison of organochlorine pesticide residues in maternal adipose tissue, maternal blood, cord blood, and human milk from mother/infant pairs

A total of 41 samples of maternal blood, milk, subcutaneous fat and umbilical cord blood were collected from mothers giving birth by Caesarean operation at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi in 1986. The samples were analyzed for organochlorine contaminants. The main contaminants found in all the samples were p,p′-DDT (100%), p,p′-DDE (100%), o,p′-DDT (59%), dieldrin (27%), transnonachlor (15%), β-HCH (12%) and lindane (2%) of all the samples analyzed. Polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) residues were not detected in any of the samples.The mean levels (mg/kg fat) of sum of DDT were 5.9 in subcutaneous fat, 4.8 in mothers milk, 2.7 in maternal serum and 1.9 in umbilical cord serum. There was a significant correlation between the levels of sum DDT in subcutaneous fat and milk fat (r=0.963), subcutaneous fat and maternal serum fat (r=0.843), and maternal serum fat and maternal milk fat (r=0.868), indicating the coherence of DDT in the body.Hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) was found in subcutaneous fat and milk fat with the mean levels of 0.03 and 0.26 mg/kg fat, respectively. Dieldrin detected in mothers milk and subcutaneous fat could not be quantified.

Organochlorine pesticide residues in fish from Lake Naivasha and Tana River, Kenya

Mugachia, J C; Kanja, L; Gitau, F

Assessment of lead and cadmium residues in farmed fish in Machakos and Kiambu counties, Kenya

Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations were determined in muscle, gonad, liver and brain of tilapia fish caught from fish ponds in Machakos and Kiambu counties in Kenya. A total of 217 fish samples were randomly sampled from the two counties. Acid digestion method and atomic absorption spectrophotometer were used for analysis. Heavy metal concentrations varied significantly depending on the type of tissue analyzed. Generally, the highest concentration of Pb was detected in brain and the liver. Fish organs contained Pb in the following order: brain > liver > muscle > gonad, while Cd followed the order: brain > liver > gonad > muscle. Kiambu county recorded higher concentration of the studied heavy metals compared to Machakos county although statistically there was no difference. Lead and Cd content in both counties studied exceeded the maximum allowable limit. The study recommended controlling industrial and agricultural effluents into surface water and proper sitting of ponds to minimize the risk of contamination of farmed fish by heavy metals.

Organochlorine pesticide residues in farmed fish in Machakos and Kiambu counties, Kenya

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate occurrence of organochlorine pesticide residues in Oreochromis niloticus fish reared by aquaculture in Kiambu and Machakos Counties. A total of 213 fish organ samples were analyzed for organochlorine pesticide residues from Kiambu and Machakos Counties in Kenya using gas–liquid chromatography. Overall, betahexachlorocyclohexane (BHC) group, the cyclodiens, aldrin, heptachlor, dieldrin, endrin and the Dichlodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) group of compounds were detected in fish samples. p,p′-DDT and its metabolite p,p′-DDD were detected in the muscle, liver and gonad and their concentration ranged between not detectable (ND) to 0.916 μg kg−1 for p,p′-DDT and ND to 1.684 μg kg−1 for p,p′-DDD. Brain had the highest concentration of DDT metabolites o, p′-DDT (2.098 ± 4.097 μg kg−1) and p′ p-DDD (1.684 ± 3.666 μg kg−1). Organochlorine pesticide residues were generally higher in Kiambu County compared to Machakos County but there was no significant difference. The residue levels of organochlorines in all fish samples analyzed were lower than the benchmark levels set by FAO, FDA, and NAS/NAE.

Organochlorine pesticides in swine tissues from abattoir material collected in Nairobi, Kenya

Subsequent to the discovery of DDT in the early 40s, other organ chlorine pesticides have been introduced. These compounds generally resist microbial and chemical degradation and therefore persist in the environment. Despite the fact that the use of organ chlorine pesticides has been banned or restricted, environmental contamination remains the main source of organ chlorine pesticides in food animals (Raisbeck et al. 1989). Studies on organochlorine pesticide residues carried out on different tissues of various animal species in Kenya have indicated varying levels of environmental contamination. (Kanja et al.; 1992, Mitema and Gitau 1990; Mugachia 1992 a; b). Organ chlorine pesticides found in follicular fluid of infertile women have been implicated as the cause of infertility (Bauklouh et al. 1985). Due to the fact that swine are polytocous, the large number of follicles and corpora lutea available makes it a suitable animal model for the study of the possible effects of organ chlorine pesticides on reproduction. In this study, swine fat, muscle, liver, corpus luteum and follicular fluid samples from abattoirs were analysed for organ chlorine pesticide residues. The tissues were obtained from two groups of gilts; one group came from farms that used only commercial feed; the other originated from farms that used commercial feed and swill interchangeably. The objectives of this study were to establish the levels of organ chlorine pesticide levels in various swine tissues and to compare the levels of the pesticides found in swine tissues from two slaughter houses obtaining pigs from different backgrounds.

The legislative and regulatory framework governing herbal medicine use and practice in Kenya: a review

Complementary and alternative medicine is an integral component of primary healthcare in Kenya. This is because the infrastructural health setup in the country is inadequate in catering for all the medical needs of the population. This particularly holds true in the rural areas where many rural folk rely on products of herbal origin to offset their healthcare needs. More often than not these products are an elaborate cacophony of several different substances of biological origin and thus need personnel adept in their preparation. Sadly, due to loopholes in legislation and regulation, quacks have a field day in the practice. Moreover, the process of planting, harvesting, preparation and storage of herbs and related products dictates that a significant number of people will ultimately be involved in the whole process. This is likely to set the stage for manipulation and compromise of the safety, quality and efficacy of these products. This state of affairs appears unabated especially in the context of the current legal and regulatory framework governing herbal medicine use and practice in Kenya. Not only are these laws inadequate, they are shrouded in ambiguity, open to interpretation and the authorities mandated to implement them often end up performing duplicate roles. The aim of this review is to critique the legal and regulatory provisions governing herbal medicine use and practice in Kenya. In conclusion, laws and regulations meant to control herbal medicine use and practice in Kenya are wanting. Clear and definitive legislation on herbal medicine use and practice coupled with effective implementation by mandated institutions will go a long way in inspiring confidence to all stakeholders of herbal medicine.

Organochlorine pesticide residues in commercial infants' milk formulas on the Kenyan market

Organochlorine contaminants were not detected in any of the 5 commercial infant formulas examined. This is in contrast to the high levels of some organochlorine pesticide residues which have been found in mothers’ milk and some agricultural products in Kenya. Nevertheless, the practice of breast‐feeding is still to be strongly recommended because of its many advantages,