Intake of DDT and its metabolites through food items among reproductive age women in Bangladesh

- Made clear the major intake route of DDT in Bangladesh people through food.
- Highest levels of DDT were determined in beef and human breast milk.
- EDI on p,p'-DDT found in infant was exceeded reference dose (RfD).
- In case of child in Bangladesh, DDT intake through beef consumption occupied 72% of it.

This study was conducted to make clear the major intake route of DDT in Bangladesh people to develop strategy and policy that could lead to a reduction in body burden especially in the reproductive age women. The concentrations of several POPs (DDT, PCBs, chlordanes, HCHs, HCB, and PeCB) were quantified in food items, human breast milk and house dust collected in Bangladesh in 2011-2012. Among the POPs analyzed in this study, DDT and its metabolites (ΣDDT) showed the highest concentration. The highest median ΣDDT concentration was found in meat (1.3-1100 ng g−1 wet weight) and house dust (30-1100 ng g−1 dry weight), and followed by human breast milk (20-55 ng g−1 wet weight). Estimated daily intake (EDI) was calculated using the DDT concentrations in food items. The highest intake of DDT was found in an infant and 99% of it was via breast milk feeding. DDT intake via consumption of beef accounted for 69% and 72% of that found in children and adults, respectively. The total EDI of DDT did not exceed the tolerable daily intake proposed by the WHO, but the EDI of p,p'-DDT exceeded the oral reference dose proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Further research is required to clarify the reason for the high levels of DDT in beef, which seems to be the major intake route of DDT for women of reproductive age in Bangladesh.

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