Khat (Catha edulis) chewing is widespread in the region of East Africa. Even low levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in khat could induce public health concern. In a market-based study, from five popular khat varieties, a total of 35 composite khat samples were analyzed for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its main transformation products, and four hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers. Extraction was carried out by quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe method (QuEChERS). OCP concentrations were determined by head space solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME–GC–MS). Every sample contained β-HCH above the maximum residue limit set by the European Commission. For total DDT, this was the case for 25.7% of the samples. The ratios of (p,p′-DDD + p,p′-DDE) to p,p′-DDT were less than one for 85% of khat samples, demonstrating recent use of DDT in khat farmlands. Conversely, the ratio of β-HCH to total HCH varied from 0.56 to 0.96, implying historical input of technical HCH. Assuming a daily chewable portion of 100 g, dietary intakes of p,p′-DDT, total DDT and total HCH by adults ranged from 3.12 to 57.9, 6.49 to 80.2 and 39.2 to 51.9 ng (kg body weight)⁻¹ day⁻¹, respectively. These levels are below acceptable levels suggested by international organizations. Chewing khat showed lower non-cancer health risk, but showed relatively higher cancer risk in terms of OCPs. Because khat is chewed without being subjected to any treatment, uncertainties associated with estimated intakes and health risks should be low. Therefore, this practice is of great concern.

卡塔（Catha edulis）咀嚼在东非地区很普遍。即使是阿拉伯茶中低水平的有机氯农药 (OCP) 也可能引起公众健康问题。在一项基于市场的研究中，从五个流行的阿拉伯茶品种中，分析了总共 35 个复合阿拉伯茶样品的二氯二苯基三氯乙烷 (DDT) 及其主要转化产物，以及四种六氯环己烷 (HCH) 异构体。通过快速、简单、廉价、有效、耐用和安全的方法 (QuEChERS) 进行提取。OCP浓度通过顶空固相微萃取与气相色谱-质谱联用（HS-SPME-GC-MS）测定。每个样品的 β-HCH 含量均高于欧盟委员会规定的最大残留限量。对于总滴滴涕，25.7% 的样品属于这种情况。(p , p '-DDD +  p , p '-DDE ) 到p , p '-DDT 在 85% 的阿拉伯茶样品中小于 1，表明最近在阿拉伯茶农田中使用了滴滴涕。相反，β-HCH 与总 HCH 的比率在 0.56 到 0.96 之间变化，这意味着技术 HCH 的历史投入。假设每日咀嚼部分为 100 克，成人膳食摄入的p、p' -DDT、总 DDT 和总 HCH 的范围为 3.12 至 57.9、6.49 至 80.2 和 39.2 至 51.9 ng（kg 体重）^-1 天^-1， 分别。这些水平低于国际组织建议的可接受水平。咀嚼阿拉伯茶显示出较低的非癌症健康风险，但就 OCP 而言显示出相对较高的癌症风险。由于阿拉伯茶未经任何处理就被咀嚼，因此与估计摄入量和健康风险相关的不确定性应该很低。因此，这种做法备受关注。