Evaluation of Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants in Mother's Milk from Kalaburagi District, Karnataka, India.

In present study, traces of organochlorine pollutants and related compounds namely DDE p, p' and DDE o, p' were analysed in mother's breast milk living in rural areas of Kalaburagi district. Traces of organochlorine pollutants were found in almost 80% of the samples analysed from rural areas, indicating that residents in these areas have been exposed to the contaminants. Kalaburagi is having fertile land, a variety of seasonal crops are cultivated in the selected study area, farmers practice large amounts of pesticides to increase the crop productivity and control the pests. Exposure of humans to these hazardous chemicals occurs directly in fields as women work as agricultural labour and indirectly due to intake of contaminated food. The organochlorine pollutants are lipophilic in nature and their presence in mother's milk has been documented in different parts of the country. Breast milk samples were collected from mothers who were willing to donate the samples after signing the informed consent form. The levels of total OCPs in milk ranged from 5 to 9 ng g-1. The results are within permissible limits and harmless. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]