Pesticide residues in human breast milk: Risk assessment for infants from Punjab, India

Analysis of human breast milk samples (n = 53) for pesticide residues revealed the presence of β-, γ-HCH, p,p′ DDD, p,p′ DDE, p,p′ DDT and endrin with mean concentration of 97.9, 101.7, 239.8, 1574.1, 100.3 and 90.7 ng g− 1 lipid wt., respectively. In addition, occurrence of β-endosulfan, endosulfan sulphate, cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos in this study have also been reported for the first time in human breast milk in Punjab, India. With increase in parity, HCH and DDT residue burden in donor's milk decreased. Although levels of HCH and DDT residues in breast milk samples have decreased significantly, yet estimated daily intake values for DDT are higher than the FAO/WHO permissible tolerable daily intake values for few infants.