Abstract

This study was conducted with the objective of profile of some pesticide residue on chewable part of Catha edulis. The samples were collected from Gurage zone of different sites, the three different dominant Wore; Cheha, Ezha, Enemorna Ener woreda. because most of the Catha edulis sold in Gurage zone was distributed form these places, and DDT was sprayed on them. Chewable parts of Catha edulis were bought from the local farms in each site. The collected sample was placed in plastic materials until sample preparation and analysis by GC-MS. The percentage recovery obtained for DDT and its metabolite in the present study for the QuEChERS extraction method was in the range of reference put by international organization. 4, 4’-DDT and its metabolite (4, 4’-DDE and 4, 4’- DDD) were determined in Catha edulis samples obtained from Ezha and Enamor woreda. Accordingly, the average concentration of 4, 4’-DDT was 5.77 ± 0.18 mg/kg in the Ezha woreda and 4.77 ± 0.17 mg/kg in the Enamorna Ener woreda. The average concentrations of the first DDT metabolite, 4, 4’-DDD was 2.59 ± 0.09 mg/kg in Catha edulis sample of Ezha and 1.41 ± 0.05 mg/kg in Enamor while the average concentration of the second DDT metabolite, 4, 4’-DDE is 0.05 ± 0.01 mg/kg in Ezha and 0.07 ± 0.02 mg/kg in Enamor woreda respectively. Value of DDT and its metabolite determined in Catha edulis samples obtained from selected woredas of Gurage zone is somewhat high. This indicates that, the farmers who cultivate the Catha edulis plant in the indicated areas of Gurage zone had been using the DDT and spraying it on their Catha edulis plant to control different pests. Hence, this finding is expected to be an alarm so that similar study could be carried out.

Keywords: QuEChERS extraction method; DDT; Catha edulis; GCMS