Organochlorine pesticide residues in human milk in Punjab, India

Human milk samples collected from areas having intensive cotton cultivation and sparce cotton cultivation in Punjab (India) were analysed for organochlorine insecticides. Both DDT and HCH were detected in almost all the samples analysed. The average levels of Σ-DDT and Σ-HCH residues in samples from cotton-growing areas were significantly higher than in those from areas where cotton is sparsely grown. Residues of Σ-DDT mainly comprised p, p′-DDT and p, p′-DDE, while those of Σ-HCH residues were mainly in the form of its β-isomer. Median values of 0·52 μg g −1 of Σ-DDT and 0·19 μg g −1 of Σ-HCH in samples of human milk from cotton-growing areas of Punjab (India) were higher than those reported from most other countries in the World.