Levels of organochlorine contaminants in human milk from different parts of Sweden

Pooled samples of human milk from five regions in Sweden were analyzed for organochlorine contaminants. In each region milk from 300 mothers was collected 3 to 5 days after parturition. Each pooled sample consisted of milk from 20 mothers. The concentrations of the contaminants were determined by electron capture gas chromatography. Somewhat higher levels of DDT+DDE, β-HCH and PCBs were found in the milk from mothers living in the southern parts of Sweden than in the milk from those living in the northern parts.