Agrochemical contaminants in six species of edible insects from Uganda and Kenya.
Simon Labu, Sevgan Subramanian, Xavier Cheseto, Perpetra Akite, Patrice Kasangaki, Moses Chemurot, Chrysantus M Tanga, Daisy Salifu, James P Egonyu
Author Information
Simon Labu: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Sevgan Subramanian: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Xavier Cheseto: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Perpetra Akite: Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
Patrice Kasangaki: National Livestock Resources Research Institute, P. O. Box 5704, Kampala, Uganda.
Moses Chemurot: Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
Chrysantus M Tanga: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Daisy Salifu: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
James P Egonyu: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Edible insects are currently promoted worldwide as an alternative animal protein source, but they are mostly still harvested from the wild where they are predisposed to contamination with agrochemicals. This study analysed six species of edible insects ( sp, and sp) collected from different habitats and/or reared in the laboratory in Kenya and Uganda for safety from agrochemical contaminants using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The residue levels were statistically compared with the Codex Alimentarius Commission maximum residue limits (MRLs). Residues of only nine agrochemicals were detected in the insects out of 374 chemicals which were screened. The detected agrochemicals include two insecticides (aminocarb and pymetrozine), three herbicides (atraton, methabenzthiazuron and metazachlor) and four fungicides (carboxin, fenpropimorph, fludioxonil and metalaxyl). and adult sp were free from detectable levels of any agrochemical. Whereas the pesticides residue levels in most insect samples were within maximum residue limits, some of them notably from black soldier fly larval frass, from oil palm and from plant compost contained 2-, 8- and 49-fold higher levels of atraton, methabenzthiazuron and metazachlor, respectively, than MRLs. These findings demonstrate that edible insects may accumulate harmful residues of agrochemicals from the environment where they breed or forage, rendering them unsafe for human consumption or feeding animals. The mechanisms for possible bioaccumulation of these agrochemicals in the insects remains to be investigated. Development of methods for farming edible insects under regulated indoor conditions to ensure their safety as sources of food or feed is recommended.
