Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Edible and Unhatched Chicken Eggs in Sharkia Province, Egypt

This work is proposed to investigate pesticide residues in chicken eggs in El-Sharkia Province, Egypt. Analysis of pesticide residues was performed on 120 egg samples included 80 random edible egg samples (40 farm and 40 home produced hen eggs) and other 40 unhatched eggs. Edible eggs were collected from different stores, places and supermarkets. unhatched incubated eggs were collected from different hatcheries during the winter season. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and organophophorous insecticides (OPIs) residue analysis of samples was done using Agilent Gas chromatograph (GC) Model 6890 N. The results revealed presence of OPIs in higher concentration in home produced eggs than that in farm produced eggs, while OCPs present in farm produced egg in higher levels than that in home produced one. Unlike other studies we have not found higher levels of exposure for most pesticides in those consumers choose home produced eggs, and even farm produced eggs. Regarding unhatched eggs dimethioate recorded the highest concentration which exceeded Maximum Residual Limits (MRLs) of (0.05) mg/kg in all the examined samples. None of the other detected pesticide residues exceeded (MRLs). It was concluded that the levels of pesticide residues in edible eggs either home or farm produced eggs should not exceed Accepted Daily Intake (ADI) established by the World Health Organization (WHO) Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues Report ( JMPR). The study suggests the need for further investigations to determine toxic mechanisms by which dimethoate distress chick emberyos at different developmental stages and result in hatching failure.