Organochlorine pesticide residues in Uganda's honey as a bioindicator of environmental contamination and reproductive health implications to consumers.

Honey has multifaceted nutritional and medicinal values; however, its quality is hinged on the floral origin of the nectar. Taking advantage of the large areas that they cover; honeybees are often used as bioindicators of environmental contamination. The focus of the present paper was to examine the quality of honey from within the vicinity of an abandoned pesticide store in Masindi District in western Uganda.

Synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide catalyzed by talc and other phyllosilicates.

Naturally occurring phyllosilicate minerals such as talc and vermiculite in conjunction with n-tetra butyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) co-catalyst were found to be efficient in the coupling of CO with epoxides to form cyclic carbonates. The reaction was carried out in a pressurized autoclave reactor at moderate pressures of 10-35 bars and temperatures of 100-150 °C. The optimized catalyst system exhibited > 90% conversion of the epoxides and > 90% selectivity for the desired cyclic carbonates, in the presence or absence of a solvent.

Primary validation of Charm II tests for the detection of antimicrobial residues in a range of aquaculture fish.

The study carried out a primary validation of Charm II tests for the detection of antimicrobial residues in aquaculture fish. The validation was performed according to European Commission Decision 2002/657/ and the parameters determined included: detection capability, repeatability, reproducibility, specificity and robustness for the detection of antimicrobial residues in fish. Fish materials from different species including cat fish, trout, salmon, sea bass, tilapia, lingue and pangasius, were spiked with varying concentrations of selected antimicrobials including sulfonamides, β-lactams, macrolides, tetracyclines and aminoglycosides to determine the detection capabilities and other validation parameters of the Charm II tests.

Organochlorine pesticide in fresh and pasteurized cow's milk from Kampala markets.

Fresh and pasteurized milk samples from Kampala markets were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. Five organochlorine pesticides, namely; aldrin, dieldrin, endosulfan, lindane, DDT and its metabolites were detected in the milk samples and confirmed with a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass spectrometer [GC-MS]. The mean values are expressed in mgkg(-1) milk fat (mf) basis.

Second-derivative spectrometric determination of urea in milk using the diacetyl monoxime reagent.

The application of derivative spectrometry to resolve overlapping spectra and improve the sensitivity and selectivity of the colorimetric determination of urea in milk using diacetyl monoxime is presented. With first-derivative (1D) spectrometry, the lambda(max) of the colored complex was established to be 525 nm. The absorption band at lambda(max) = 525 nm in normal absorption (0D) spectrometry was resolved into three clearly distinct spectral bands with minima at 497, 530, and 566 nm with second-derivative (2D) spectrometry.

Organochlorine pesticides in soils from south-western Uganda.

Organochlorine (OC) residues were analysed in soil samples collected from Kihiihi sub-county, Kanungu District, which is located in south-western Uganda. Mabira Central Forest Reserve which is located in central Uganda was used as a reference site in this study. The samples were collected at 15-20 cm depths below the soil surface and extracted with organic solvents.

DDT and metabolites in fish from Lake Edward, Uganda.

This paper presents results based on determination of residue levels of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis[p-chlorophenyl]ethane (DDT) and its metabolites in five fish species from Rwenshama landing site on Lake Edward, Uganda. The residue levels were analysed by using a GC-ECD and confirmed by GC-MS. The DDT residues detected in fish samples from Lake Edward were p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD and o,p'-DDD.