Survey of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in commercial pasteurized milk in Iran.

The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of organochlorine pesticides (α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, HCB, dieldrin, o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) congeners (28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180) in pasteurized and sterilized milk containing 1.5%, 2.5%, and 3% fat from Tehran province (Iran). Considering the importance of milk and dairy products for human nutrition and the toxicity of these compounds, their daily intake (DI) through milk was also determined. The compounds γ-HCH (13.49 ng g(-1) fat), β-HCH (11.7 ng g(-1) fat), and PCB180 (7.56 ng g(-1) fat) were found at highest concentrations. The DI for all compounds was less than the acceptable daily intake established by FAO/WHO except for Σ PCBs which was more than the minimal risk level.