Dietary habits associated with the presence of organochlorine pesticides in human milk

Pesticide contamination of lactating mothers’ milk in Latin America: a systematic review

“…A total of 1835 references were identified. After reading their titles and abstracts and applying the eligibility criteria, 104 articles were selected to be read in full, of which 49 articles 14 , 15 , 20 - 67 were selected for study ( Figure 1 ). The main reasons for excluding articles referred to their failure to meet the established regionality criteria (n = 29), research of pesticides in media other than breast milk (n = 23), and review studies (n = 3).…”

“…Some studies in this review found higher levels of pesticides in women’s breast milk in rural and suburban areas, which may be associated with occupational exposure on large farms. Large-scale food production can create farmer dependency on agrochemicals for cultivation 15 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 31 , 42 , 48 , 52 , 59 . However, other studies 42 , 44 found higher levels of DDT in breast milk samples derived from women in the urban zone.…”

“…A study conducted 14 in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo (Brazil) found residues of four types of pesticides, with dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) being identified in 100% of the analyzed breast milk samples, with higher mean levels of concentration in samples from occupationally exposed women than in those from non-exposed women. A study with women in Mexico 15 found the presence of two compounds derived from pesticides in 76% of the analyzed milk samples.…”

Human Donor Milk: How the Risks to Infants Have Changed

“…What we do know, however, is that exposure to even minute doses of many of these substances can lead to severe and life-long negative consequences for ill and fragile premature newborns. (22,23) Moreover, because of the long-term consequences of exposure to these contaminants, evidence of exposure may not even present until long after birth or hospital discharge. Claims of safety and a paucity of traceable pathology notwithstanding, there is no credible way of assessing human donor milk because of the inconsistency inherent in these vital medical tissue, human milk, places infants at unnecessary risk.…”