Levels of organochlorine pesticides in human milk in Ahmedabad, India.

Concentrations of organochlorine compounds, i.e., alpha HCH, gamma HCH, beta HCH, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD and PCBs were determined in 50 human milk samples collected in Ahmedabad, India during 1981-1982. The mothers' ages ranged from 18 to 30 years (mean 24 years), and they were nursing their first or second child. All 50 samples contained alpha-HCH, gamma HCH, beta HCH, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDT in a concentration of 17.51, 1.62, 205.48, 244.71, and 53.43, respectively (median micrograms/kg: whole-milk basis). o,p'-DDT was found in 48 samples whereas p,p'-DDD was detected in 44 samples. The concentration of o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDD was 53.43 and 5.13 micrograms/kg (median), expressed on a whole-milk basis. PCBs were absent in all samples.