[Results of human milk analysis for pesticide levels in women of the south Bavarian region].

During the years 1986 to 1990 1.538 samples of human milk were analyzed by the "Landesuntersuchungsamt für das Gesundheitswesen Südbayern". Here we report on our results with emphasis on organochlorine pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl analysis. Determination of PCDD and PCDF was possible only in a few samples for technical reasons. In 1984 the "Kommission zur Prüfung von Rückständen in Lebensmitteln" of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft published so-called tolerable concentrations for some pesticides and PCBs in human milk. These concentrations have been exceeded only in a few samples (HCB, DDT + DDE, PCB). There is a trend of decreasing concentrations in the last years. A good correlation between the concentrations of pesticides and the age of mothers and the number of births could be shown. There are regional differences in the concentrations of HCB. This study shows the persistence of some substances in human milk even years after banning their usage.