Organochlorine Pesticides and the Dairy Industry

Production and use of organochlorine pesticides has been declining in recent years. This suggests that residue problems will decrease, but the persistence of these materials in the environment means that some residues will be encountered for many years. The residue levels in the general food supply are low enough to pose no demonstrable adverse effect on human health. The situation in the general environment may pose serious problems for some species of wildlife. Milk pesticide residue concentrations above the FDA tolerances are generally the result of misuse of the pesticide or inadvertent indirect contamination through the environment. There are generally no satisfactory preventive measures other than good management. Drugs which induce liver microsomal enzymes show promise for dieldrin or DDD decontamination of cows producing milk contaminated above the FDA tolerance. The role of these drugs in other pesticides or the use of activated charcoal for decontamination of cows requires further work for appropriate evaluation.