Determination of the Concentrations of Some Persistent Pollutants in Locally Brewed Alcohol (Burkutu) in Some Selected Local Government Areas of Adamawa State, Nigeria Determination of the Concentrations of Some Persistent Pollutants in Locally Brewed Alcohol (Burkutu) in Some Selected Local Government Areas of Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Burkutu, a locally brewed alcohol obtained from five Local Government Areas of Adamawa State, namely Hong, Song, Yola North, Numan, and Ganye, was examined for the presence and levels of some residues of the pesticides dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethan (DDT), endosulfan, and lindane by high-performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that the Burkutu obtained in Song Local Government Areas has the highest concentration of DDT (4.1825 mg/dm3), endosulfan (3.8320 mg/dm3), and lindane (2.1510 mg/dm3) compared to the other areas studied. The findings of this research work showed the presence of these persistent pollutants in all the Burkutu samples examined and may be attributed to the sources of water used for the local brewed. The agrochemical used on form produce during storage, mineralogical content, and soil texture, and also some can be traced down to the sorghum used which is the raw material used processing Burkutu. Therefore, the potential for its presence in the Burkutu is serious health risks, which is alarming and depict a threat to public health.