Persistent Organochlorine Compounds in Human Milk Collected in Croatia Over Two Decades

The distribution and time trend of organochlorine pesticide (OCP), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/PCDF) concentrations in human milk samples from Croatia collected in 1981-2003 are presented. Between 1981/1982 and 1987/1989, the concentrations of HCB, β-HCH, DDE, and total PCBs decreased about 50%, while for the last decade, the concentrations have been decreasing very slowly. In 2002/2003 the range of PCB congeners and OCPs was from below the limit of determination to 332 ng g⁻¹ milk fat. PCDD/PCDF concentrations in human milk samples collected in 1981-2000 ranged between 5.2 and 26.7 pg I-TEQ g⁻¹ milk fat and showed a decreasing trend.