Contamination of bee Products by Pesticides in cote D’ivoire

Beekeeping is an activity, that is gaining momentum in Côte d'Ivoire. However, the use of pesticides can be a source of contamination of bee products. The objective of this study was, to evaluate their presence in beekeeping products collected in cotton and cocoa production regions. Bee products (honey, pollen, wax) were sampled in beekeepers, belonging to beekeepers-farmers using Agrochemicals. The samples were analyzed by GC/MS. In cocoa production region, cypermethrin and profenofos were detected in 28-32 of the 40 samples of honey or pollen and 16-24 samples of wax. In the center, however, 80% of honey, wax and pollen samples contain metalaxyl, 58.33% honey and pollen contain chlorpyrifos and 20% of wax. Ten to 30% of the samples were contaminated with atrazine. The hazard quotient, which is the EDI/ADJ ratio, was found to be between 0.01 and 0.02 for Profenofos, metalaxyl, atrazine, and cypermethrin. It was 1.75 for chlorpyrifos. These results indicated that the occurrence of a toxic effect related to the consumption of honey from the study areas is unlikely (QD = 0.01-0.92 <1) for four of the five pesticides identified in honey. But there is a possibility of health risks due to the presence of chlorpyriphos (QD> 1).