Organochlorine Insecticide Residues in Dairy Milk Samples Collected in Lucknow, India

Food-chain contamination with persistent pesticide residues is a global concern due to associated human health hazards (Loganathan and Kannan, 1994). Pesticide residues have been reported in food grains, vegetables, fruits and animal products in market samples from time to time (Kaphalia et al, 1990). However, because of their special significance in the human diet, particularly for children, contamination of milk and milk products has been viewed with greater concern (Dhaliwal, 1990). These products constitute about 10% of the total diet among Indians. A survey sponsored by the FAO through the Ministry of Health, Government of India, during 1980s showed DDT and HCH in milk at 0.19-216 and 0.12-40 mu g/g fat respectively with more than 60% samples contaminated above the MRL (Kalra and Chawla 1985). More recently, a multicentric study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research on samples of dairy milk collected from rural and urban areas of 12 states showed 80% of samples contaminated with DDT and HCH; median values were more than those reported from most other countries (Kalra et al., 1999). Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, comprised of 83 districts with Lucknow, the capital of U.P. alone is habituated by more than 2.5m residents. Although, data for pesticide contamination of milk collected in U.P. is available but in view of its large population a district wide study may better reflect the state with regard to contamination of dairy milk by persistent pesticides. In the present study, milk samples from booths of two different dairies in Lucknow were collected and analysed for the presence of persistent organochlorine insecticide residues to ascertain the extent of contamination in Lucknow and compared with pesticidal contamination of dairy milk in other states of India.