TY  - JOUR
A1  - Woldetsadik, Desta
A1  - Simon, Marcel Pierre
A1  - Knuth, Dennis
A1  - Hailu, Hillette
A1  - Gebresilassie, Araya
A1  - Dejen, Asmare
A1  - Düring, Rolf-Alexander
T1  - Exposure to DDT and HCH congeners and associated potential health risks through khat (Catha edulis) consumption among adults in South Wollo, Ethiopia
Y1  - 2021-02-17
VL  - 43
IS  - 9
SP  - 3597
EP  - 3613
JF  - Environmental Geochemistry and Health
DO  - 10.1007/s10653-021-00846-w
PB  - Springer Netherlands
N2  - Khat (Catha edulis) chewing is widespread in the region of East Africa. Even low levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in khat could induce public health concern. In a market-based study, from five popular khat varieties, a total of 35 composite khat samples were analyzed for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its main transformation products, and four hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers. Extraction was carried out by quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe method (QuEChERS). OCP concentrations were determined by head space solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME–GC–MS). Every sample contained β-HCH above the maximum residue limit set by the European Commission. For total DDT, this was the case for 25.7% of the samples. The ratios of (p,p′-DDD + p,p′-DDE) to p,p′-DDT were less than one for 85% of khat samples, demonstrating recent use of DDT in khat farmlands. Conversely, the ratio of β-HCH to total HCH varied from 0.56 to 0.96, implying historical input of technical HCH. Assuming a daily chewable portion of 100 g, dietary intakes of p,p′-DDT, total DDT and total HCH by adults ranged from 3.12 to 57.9, 6.49 to 80.2 and 39.2 to 51.9 ng (kg body weight)<sup>−1</sup> day<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. These levels are below acceptable levels suggested by international organizations. Chewing khat showed lower non-cancer health risk, but showed relatively higher cancer risk in terms of OCPs. Because khat is chewed without being subjected to any treatment, uncertainties associated with estimated intakes and health risks should be low. Therefore, this practice is of great concern.
UR  - http://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gldocs-11858/11471
ER  -