Survey of antibiotic and pesticide residues in aquaculture products in the Philippines
Share
Abstract
A survey in the Philippines in the early and mid-1990s (Lacierda et al.,2008) revealed that more than 100 chemicals and biological products are used in aquaculture production starting from pond preparation until harvest including chemicals for disease prevention and control. The survey comprises groups of chemicals and some are namely, soil and water conditioners, fertilizers, pesticides, probiotics and feed additives. A probable increase in the usage (volume) and number of chemicals throughout the years could be inferred since world aquaculture production and the number of species for culture also increased (Tacon & Metian, 2008). For health reasons of consumers and the safety regulations imposed by importing countries on aquaculture products, there is a pressing need to survey the chemicals used in aquaculture at present. In line with the promotion of food safety awareness in the region with regards to fish, the objective of this survey was to determine levels of commonly used antibiotics and pesticides in aquaculture that maybe present in aquaculture products such as fish and shrimps.
Suggested Citation
Catacutan, M. R., Coloso, R. M., & Arnaiz, M. T. (2015). Survey of antibiotic and pesticide residues in aquaculture products in the Philippines. In Important Findings and Recommendations on Chemical Use in Aquaculture in Southeast Asia (pp. 5–10). Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.
Type
Book chapterISBN
9789719931034Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Endosulfan: a hidden menace
(Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, 2003)A clean and healthy environment is paramount to human existence. While pesticide use has successfully sustained agricultural and food production in our lifetime as well as safeguarded human health by controlling insect pests, it has also caused many tragedies including population declines in our wildlife, fatalities in workers exposed to pesticides in its manufacture and use, and the increasing incidence of dreaded human illnesses such as cancer. A delicate balance should be achieved to mitigate the adverse impact of pesticide use to the environment and at the same time ensuring short- and long-term agricultural productivity. Endosulfan has been effectively used as a pesticide, but much evidence on its chronic and sub-lethal effects on humans and wildlife have been gathered in recent years. More research still needs to be done to determine its effects from long-term exposure at very low levels. Endosulfan is highly toxic to fish and other aquatic animals and, thus, not recommended for use in aquatic ecosystems. However, in some countries, it has been incorrectly used as a molluscicide in rice paddies, which could have an adverse impact on the rice-fish farming systems and on other surrounding aquatic ecosystems. It is clear that such practices should be stopped and users must strictly observed the recommended application methods. Agricultural productivity should be achieved with less pesticide by using integrated pest management programs which make use of biological, cultural, and physical control agents and lower doses of safer pesticide on a need only basis. The benefits of biotechnology should also be used to develop more effective and safer products and techniques. This is a valid approach and one that will require a unified and concerted effort among suppliers and users of pesticides in order to ensure that resources are used to our best advantage with minimal risk. -
Important findings and recommendations on chemical use in aquaculture in Southeast Asia
(Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, 2015)Under the program of Fisheries Consultative Group of the ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) - SEAFDEC (Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center) Strategic Partnership Mechanism, a research project entitled “Food Safety of Aquaculture Products in Southeast Asia” was implemented by SEAFDEC/AQD (Aquaculture Department of SEAFDEC) from 2010 to 2014 with the financial support of the Government of Japan Trust Fund V (GOJ-TF5). The objectives of the project were to 1) contribute to the establishment of guidelines on the production of safe aquaculture products; 2) determine the presence and levels of commonly used chemicals in aquaculture in aquaculture products; 3) compile and disseminate SEAFDEC guidelines on the use of antibiotics and chemicals in aquaculture; and 4) implement training course/workshop to promote food safety awareness in the ASEAN region. Along with the said objectives, research activities, particularly focusing both on withdrawal periods of antibiotics often used in aquaculture and on surveillance of chemical contaminants in aquaculture products and feeds, were implemented (in 2010-2014). In addition, knowledge and technologies on food safety of aquaculture products were disseminated to local and national government staff, practitioners, stakeholders, etc. through an international seminar (in January 2011) and an international training course (in November 2013). Furthermore, AQD organized The International Workshop on Food Safety of Aquaculture Products in the Southeast Asia – Challenges in Sustaining the Food Safety of Aquaculture Products in May 2013 to promote and influence the regional initiatives in securing wholesome and safe aquaculture commodities in the ASEAN region. The publication of this volume consolidates the activities of the project which AQD has pursued during the period of the GOJ-TF5. Although the title of this volume does not include the word “guideline,” this volume surely includes and refers to the ASEAN guidelines recently published with the title of Guidelines for the Use of Chemicals in Aquaculture and Measures to Eliminate the Use of Harmful Chemicals courtesy of the ASEAN secretariat based on the understanding of the collaboration between ASEAN-SEAFDEC, as well as the basic and new findings of AQD scientists accomplished through the research activities, which were not covered by the ASEAN guidelines. Although the food safety of aquaculture products would be strictly required in the ASEAN region in the future, this volume will make a great contribution to the requirement. -
Detection of pesticide residues in Philippine aquaculture products
(Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, 2005-03)Detection and monitoring of pesticide residues in aquaculture-derived products are important considerations for the safety and health of consumers. A study was conducted with the aim of developing, standardizing and validating analytical methods for sampling, extraction, and quantification of pesticide residues in aquaculture products. Another objective of the study was to assess the extent of pesticide contamination in aquaculture products from selected aquaculture sites (seven provinces) in the Philippines. Various extraction techniques and clean-up procedures for some aquaculture products (fatty fish, non-fatty fish, plant material) were standardized. The recovery and efficiency, detection limit and reproducibility of the methods for 28 pesticide residues were established. A total of 10 brackishwater and 8 freshwater aquaculture species (819 samples) from urban, rural/agricultural and rural/non-agricultural sites were sampled during the dry and wet seasons. For the dry season samples, no significant detectable concentration of pesticide residues (28 residues) were detected in the aquaculture products (shrimps, milkfish, grouper, sea bass, rabbitfish, mud crab, catfish, tilapia, silver carp, climbing perch, goby, mussel, oyster and seaweed). For the wet season samples, no significant detectable concentration of the pesticide residues were detected in most of the aquaculture products. However, carbaryl, a carbamate, was detected in catfish (n=3) at 2.3 μg/g. Trace amount (<0.15 μg/g) of endosulfan I was detected in golden apple snails (n=5). Results of the assessment study showed that pesticide residue contamination of aquaculture products in the Philippines is not prevalent.
