| Summary: | This study was conducted in agricultural areas in Pinang Tunggal, Kepala Batas, Penang. The main objective of the study was to determine the level of selected organochlorine pesticides in farmers’ biological samples particularly in hair and urine samples by using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Concomitantly, it was also carried out to assess the farmers` knowledge, attitude and practice towards pesticide use. Organochlorine pesticides selected in this study were HCHs (α-, β-, γ- and δ-hch), DDTs (p,p’-ddt, p,p’-ddd and p,p’-dde), aldrin, dieldrin, endosulfan sulfate, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide and methoxychlor. Hair sample was chosen as it is known to be a good long term indicator for chemical exposure while urine is normally used to determine short term exposure. Method development and validation using GC-MS were established and several parameters were analyzed. Parameters observed were speed and time for agitation, speed and time for centrifugation, temperature for hair digestion and type of solvent for extraction. R2 was in accepted range, coefficients of variation were less than 20% and recoveries were in the range of 70% to 120%. A total 33 % of the hair samples (n=60) and 21% of the urine samples (n=60) from the respondents were detected to contain certain concentrations of the pesticides. β-HCH was the most organochlorine pesticide detected in hair, while Dieldrin was mostly found in urine. On weigh to weigh basis, higher concentration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were detected in hair as compared to those found in urine.
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