American Journal of Applied Chemistry 2017; 5(6): 101-109 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ajac doi: 10.11648/j.ajac.20170506.13 ISSN: 2330-8753 (Print); ISSN: 2330-8745 (Online) Physicochemical Characterization and Pesticide Residue Analysis of Honey Produced in West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia Eyobel Mulugeta, Wodaje Addis*, Lemessa Benti, Miresa Tadese Department of Chemistry, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia Email address:
[email protected] (W. Addis) *Corresponding author To cite this article: Eyobel Mulugeta, Wodaje Addis, Lemessa Benti, Miresa Tadese. Physicochemical Characterization and Pesticide Residue Analysis of Honey Produced in West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. American Journal of Applied Chemistry. Vol. 5, No. 6, 2017, pp. 101-109. doi: 10.11648/j.ajac.20170506.13 Received: October 9, 2017; Accepted: October 30, 2017; Published: December 8, 2017 Abstract: This study investigated physicochemical properties and pesticide residue levels of honey from West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. The results of moisture, electrical conductivity, pH, free acidity, reducing sugar, sucrose, ash, and total solids were found to be 16.61–18.64%, 0.384–0.646 mS/cm, 3.77–4.22, 7.42–13.87 meq/kg, 61.38–72.87%, 6.84–15.94%, 0.030–0.095%, and 81.36–83.28%, respectively. Correlation analysis has shown moderate positive correlation at P < 0.01 between sucrose and ash (r = 0.555), and a strong negative correlation between moisture and total solids (r = -0.9171). Residues of 4,4-DDD, 4,4- DDT, Dieldrin, α-Endosulfan, and β-Endosulfan were detected, among 20 organochlorine pesticides analyzed. Most physicochemical parameters have been found within the acceptable range set by national and international standards except sucrose content from Ejere and Toke Kutaye.