2025/11/06 by Opatola, Segun
paper · doi:10.48422/imist.prsm/ajees-v11i3.58186
Cannabis is a versatile crop with a wide range of agricultural and industrial uses. This study aimed to investigate potential health risks associated with organochlorine pesticide residues (OCPs) and heavy metals in different parts of Cannabis sativa L. plant. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) were employed for the identification and quantification of OCPs and heavy metals, respectively. The OCPs results showed uniform presence of heptachlor (0.74-0.75 mg/kg), aldrin (0.34-0.35 mg/kg), and endosulfandiol (1.31-1.35 mg/kg) across all plant components. Endrin ketone was significantly higher in leaves (2.755 mg/kg), and p,p'-DDE was detected only in seeds (0.45 mg/kg) and blend samples (0.45 mg/kg). Concentrations of heptachlor, aldrin, endrin ketone, and p,p'-DDE exceeded Health Canada's Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). Conversely, endosulfandiol levels remained within regulatory thresholds, and trans-Chlordane, 4,7-methanoindene, and methoxychlor were below detection limits in all plant parts. The health risk assessment, evaluated using estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard index (HI), and target hazard quotient (THQ) metrics, revealed that while most pesticide residues posed minimal health risks (HI < 1). THQ values for all analyzed pesticides were below 1.0, indicating low risk of non-cancer health effects.