Organochlorine pesticides in Argentinian beef and associated health risks

A modified QuEChERS method followed by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC - MS) was applied for the determination of eight organochlorine pesticides in beef. A defatting step involving hexane addition was incorporated to improve sample cleanup. The presence of α-HCH, β-HCH, aldrin, DDE, dieldrin, endrin, DDD, and DDT was evaluated in 70 beef samples obtained from butcher shops and meat processing plants. Endrin was detected in 58 samples, with 12 residue levels exceeding the maximum residue limit (MRL) as established by the European Union. The highest residue level observed was 195.1 µg/kg for endrin, which is 3.9 times higher than the MRL. Risk assessment based on estimated daily intake (EDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) values of the tested samples indicated that residues of aldrin, dieldrin and endrin could pose a potential health risk to both adults and children.