Organochlorine pesticide residues in mother's milk: a source of toxic chemicals in suckling infants.

A total of 24 samples of mother's milk collected during the first week of lactation from four major cities in India (Karnal, Bangalore, Calcutta and Bombay) were analysed for the estimation of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). alpha-HCH, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDT were generally the main contaminants. The average total 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDT) levels stand at 0.05, 0.11, 0.19 and 0.22 p.p.m. (whole-milk basis) in the samples from Bangalore, Calcutta, Karnal and Bombay respectively. In the same order total hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) levels were around 0.01, 0.03, 0.03 and 0.05 p.p.m. Wide variations among OCP levels observed in the present study have no relation with the fat content of the various samples. The samples from Calcutta and Bombay showed significantly high levels of OCPs. The daily intake of total HCH and DDT residues calculated for the suckling infant was significantly higher in the present study when compared with the WHO recommended value.