Studies on the Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Foods (VII)

Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Mothers' Milk

Abstract

Organochlorine pesticide residues in mothers' milk were examined in twenty-four prefectures at the beginning of 1971 (January to March).
In the present study α-, β- and γ-BHC, pp′-DDT, pp′-DDE and dieldrin were detected in mothers' milk. while pp′-DDD detected in cow's milk was not detected.
In general, the levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in mothers' milk were higher in West Japan than those in East Japan. Especially, BHC levels in mothers' milk were much higher in West Japan than those in East Japan, but other pesticide residues were not so different in both areas.
Compared peasant wives with non-peasant wives, the levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in mothers' milk of the former were a little lower than those of the latter.
Furthermore, when the results in the present investigation were compared with the tolerance of organochlorine pesticide residues in cow's milk, most of these mothers' milk were lower in the levels of the residues. However, if special regard was paid to the point that the tolerance of pp′-DDT were applied to total DDT, in total DDT residues, about 50% of the mothers' milk examined in the present study was over the tolerance of DDT.
The relationship of organochlorine pesticide residue levels in mothers' milk and some foods (meat, dairy products, and vegetables) were also examined.