Biomonitoring of Some Persistent Organochlorine Contaminants in the Milk of Anatolian Water Buffaloes

Abstract

In this study, 50 raw milk samples of Anatolian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis, Linneaus, 1758) belonging to different dairy farmers in the Kızılırmak Delta in Samsun, Turkey, were investigated for contamination by 9 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 16 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The contaminants were extracted cryogenically from the milk fat and their concentrations were determined with a gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The mean level of alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) in the milk samples was 6.34 ng/g / fat, beta-HCH was 20.41 ng/g/fat, gamma-HCH was 9.77 ng/g/fat, ∑DDTs was 18.11 ng/g/fat and ∑Indicator-PCBs was 127.27 ng/g/fat. The mean values, except for aldrin and ∑DDTs, were above the maximum residue limits (MRLs) stated in the European Commission (EC) Regulations and Turkish Food Codex (TFC). Regular monitoring and reporting of the levels of persistent organochlorines in the meat, milk and processed products of water buffaloes is essential for the assessment of human, animal and environmental health.

Spatial trends and human health risks of organochlorinated pesticides from bovine milk; a case study from a developing country, Pakistan

“…These HCH isomer concentrations are lower than those reported in buffalo in Turkey i.e. α-HCH: 6.34 ng mL -1 , β-HCH: 20.41 ng mL -1 , γ-HCH: 9.77 ng mL -1 , 4-4'DDE: 4.36 ng mL -1 and 4-4' DDT: 13.54 ng mL -1 (Atmaca, 2019). The detailed comparisons are provided in Table S4.…”

“…The mean concentration of Aldrin is 1.09 ng mL -1 and range 0.52-2.25 ng mL -1 in buffaloes milk. The mean value of Aldrin was slightly higher thanthe mean value (0.99 ng mL -1 ) reported in Turkish buffaloes milk samples (Atmaca, 2019). On the whole, OCPs in buffalo milk samples in Punjab, Pakistan have either higher or lower mean concentrations as compared to the OCPs level in milk of other countries(Table S4).…”