[Pollution of human milk in France by organochlorine insecticide residues].

The monthly analysis of milk mixtures from ten French human milk banks, over a period of two years, showed that there was marked pollution by organochlorine insecticide residues. The following averages were noted: hexachlorocyclohexane + hexachlorobenzene 2,75 mg/kg of pure fat, DDT and derivatives 3,24 mg/kg fat, heptachlor epoxide 0,28, dieldrin 0,23. The main insecticides were, with average values, beta hexachlorocyclohexane (1,67), hexachlorobenzene (0,98), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (2,40). All these milks were invariably very polluted throughout the year, but there were however noted some qualitative differences according to the geographic position of the milk banks: South of the Loire river, the main polluting factor was hexachlorocyclohexane, whilst North of the Seine, fairly high values were found for heptachlor epoxide and dieldrin. The special study of human milk from Lille showed a 50% reduction in pollution between 1970 and 1973. The probable routes of contamination are human food and the ill-advised domestic use of pesticides.