SPECIFIC PATTERN OF PERSISTENT ORGANOCHLORINE RESIDUES IN HUMAN BREAST-MILK FROM SOUTH-INDIA

Human breast milk samples collected from four locations in Tamil Nadu state, South India, were analyzed for understanding the levels of persistent organochlorines such as 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH (BHC)) isomers, 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) compounds, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). On the basis of the overall concentrations of these compounds, ΣHCH (sum of α, β, γ, and δ isomers) levels were higher than the other two. Unlike that of developed countries, the concentration of HCH isomers in Indian breast milk was more in vegetarians than nonvegetarians. Interestingly, high levels of HCH isomers indicated a shift toward their preferential accumulation in the body relative to DDT compounds, which had higher levels than HCH isomers in earlier years. In view of the increasing usage of technical HCH for agriculture and vector control, the body burden of HCH isomers may still go up in Indians. We also detected PCBs in Indian breast milk, but at low levels. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.