Organochlorine Residues in Bees and Hive Products in Karnataka

In the present study, Aldrin, BHC, DDT and Endosulfan were simultaneously determined in honey, pollen, wax and bees by using liquid-liquid extraction followed by clean-up and determination by GC/ECD and GC/MS techniques. In the present investigation 67 samples were collected throughout the state of Karnataka, India and analysed of which only 18 samples were contaminated with OCPs such as Aldrin, BHC and Endosulfan. Aldrin was detected only in the honey samples whereas BHC and endosulfan were found in all the matrices with highest recorded value of 3.8mg/kg in wax and 2.78mg/kg in brood samples respectively. Thus results clearly indicated that, there is no significant pesticide residues in honey samples from Karnataka.