Distribution of Chlorinated Pesticides in Shellfishes from Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

Distribution of Chlorinated Pesticides in Shellfishes from Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

Shellfishes namely Ocypoda africanus, Penaeus notialis and Procambarus clarkii were collected from Lagos Lagoon and analysed for chlorinated pesticides because they are the most abundant group of  aquatic sediment macro-fauna within tropical areas and have the capability to concentrate in their tissues pesticide residues from sediments and water. Sampling was conducted between December 2008 and September 2009 during the dry and wet seasons. The shellfishes were subjected to cold extraction with petroleum ether/acetone (1:1 v/v) mixture and clean-up on silica gel adsorbents. The samples were analysed for aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, DDT, heptachlor, HCH, endosulfan, chlordane and methoxychlor. The detection and determination of the pesticide residues were performed by gas chromatography.