Assessment of health risk from organochlorine xenobiotics in goat milk for consumers in Poland

• Analysis of organochlorine pesticides in goat milk in years 2009–2013 revealed a slow gradual downward trend in residue level.
• The estimated LADDs for the OCPs were considerably lower than ADI.
• The Hazard Quotients were the maximum value of 5.55·10−2 and the examined goat milk was safe for adult consumers' health.

The occurrence of organochlorine xenobiotics in goat milk is a one of bioindicators of environmental pollution, and, consequently, food contamination.This study estimates contamination level of goat milk produced at two organic farms in years 2009–2013. Analysis covered determination of 18 organochlorine pesticides, including HCH isomers (α, β, γ, δ), DDT and its metabolites, endosulfan and its derivatives, and methoxychlor. Pesticide content was determined using GCMS method. The detected levels of organochlorine residues in goat milk were low, in most cases below 8 ng g−1 lipids. Among HCH isomers, γ- and β-HCH occurred in the highest concentrations, up to 4.85 ng g−1 lipids. While among DDT metabolites p,p′-DDD dominated, up to 7.86 ng g−1 lipids.The detected residues were below the current maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the pesticides. Considering the average milk consumption in Poland, the goat milk from both farms was safe for consumers’ health. The lifetime average daily dose (LADD) for the sum of the compounds under study ranged within 1.73 × 10−5–1.06 × 10−4 mg kg bw−1 d−1 and were well below the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for particular compounds. This was also confirmed by the values of hazard quotient (HQ), which were very low and ranged within 3.42 × 10−3–5.55 × 10−2.