Organochlorine Pesticide Levels in Breast Milk in Guerrero, Mexico

Abstract

In Mexico, organochlorine pesticides were used in public health and agriculture programs, causing chronic exposure to the population. Human breast milk samples were collected from 171 mothers who were residents from Guerrero, Mexico. Analysis was carried out by gas chromatography. Median concentrations (mg/kg on fat basis) for the following pesticides were: HCB, 0.009; β-HCH, 0.004; pp'DDE, 0.760; op'DDT, 0.016; pp'DDT, 0.045; and Σ-DDT, 0.833. These values are lower than in other States in Mexico, and in some countries where the use of these pesticides was banned more than 30 years ago. Differences were found in HCB, pp'DDE and pp'DDT concentrations in groups divided according to age (p < 0.05). The older age groups had higher concentrations, except for the comparison between groups 21-23/24-28 years, which were 0.913 and 0.530 mg/kg of pp'DDE, respectively. Given the restrictions on use, a greater decrease in organochlorine pesticide levels in human milk is expected in a few years.

Review Article. Organochlorine pesticides, their toxic effects on living organisms and their fate in the environment

“…Another study from Korea also revealed the presence of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) chlordanes, aldrin, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), dieldrin, heptachlors, endrins, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), toxaphenes and mirex, in milk (Kim et al ., 2013). Organochlorine pesticides HCB, β-HCH, pp’DDE, pp’DDT, pp’DDT, Σ-DDT were present in breast milk of the population in Guerrero, Mexico, proportionally to exposure (Chávez-Almazán et al ., 2014). …”

Análisis Regional De La Contaminación Por Plaguicidas Organoclorados en Leche Humana en Guerrero, México

“…Los plaguicidas organoclorados pueden monitorearse en poblaciones humanas a través del análisis de leche materna, lo que refleja en parte la cantidad de contaminante presente en el ambiente de donde fue absorbido por los individuos estudiados (IPCS 2011). Existen escasos estudios sobre estos contaminantes orgánicos persistentes en la población del estado de Guerrero (Chávez-Almazán et al 2014, 2016. Respecto a la distribución de estos compuestos en el estado, no hay información que permita identificar las diferencias en la exposición entre sus habitantes y de esta forma brindar un panorama de la problemática existente que coadyuve a la toma de decisiones de las instituciones públicas ambientales y sanitarias tendientes a disminuir el contacto con estos contaminantes y prevenir sus efectos adversos a largo plazo en las personas expuestas.…”