Organochlorine Pesticide Level in Breast Milk


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AYTAÇ N., HİLAL A., YAPICIOGLU A. B., DAĞLIOĞLU N., GÜLMEN M. K., TANIR F.

TURKIYE KLINIKLERI TIP BILIMLERI DERGISI, vol.30, no.1, pp.107-114, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

Abstract

Objective: Mother's milk is the primary nutrition source for healthy development and growth of infants. Nutrients are transmitted to the infant through the breast milk along with other substances. The objective of this study was to determine the level of certain organochlorine pesticides (OCP's) in the milk of the mothers who have recently given birth and residing in Adana. Material and Methods: Between July and September 2006, milk was taken from 59 mothers who are within 1 to 30 postpartum clays. These samples were analyzed with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (El) and gas chromatography (ECD) in the Toxicology Laboratory of the Department of Forensic Medicine. The collected data were evaluated by the SPSS 10 statistical program. Results: Out of these 59 women included in the study, mean age was 26.8 +/- 5.9. In 62.7% (37 samples) of the milk samples, OCP's were determined. There was no statistically significant relation between OCP positivity and residential place, profession, education level, agricultural activity and age groups. In the milk of 59 mothers, 13 types of OCP's were found. The most frequently observed types were alpha hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH) with 14 women, dichlorophenyl dichloroethylene (DDE) in 9 women, alpha-Chlordane in 8 women, gamma hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH) in 7 women, beta hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) in 6 women. Conclusion: The finding that OCP was found in breast milk in 62.7% of the women included in the study, is very important from the perspective of public health. Our result that the OPC existence does not differ with age, profession and place of residency, shows that the whole population is under the risk. More comprehensive studies should be undertaken in this subject.