Levels of Organochlorine Pesticides in Crops and Related Products From Vojvodina,Serbia: Estimated Dietary Intake

Levels of 16 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were investigated in 39 composite samples of agricultural crops, related by-products, and foodstuffs collected in Vojvodina, Serbia, in 2002 through 2004. After extraction and cleanup, OCPs were determined by capillary gas chromatography using electron-capture detection. The highest mean level of 0.971 ng/g whole weight (ww) was found for α-HCH in wheat flour samples. OCPs levels were well lower than the respective maximum residue limits set by current European and Serbian regulations. Mean OCP levels were low (<1 ng/g ww) for all sample types. The most frequently determined residue was 4,4′-DDT (identified in 76.9% of all samples analyzed), followed by γ-HCH (66.7%), β-HCH (48.7%), and endosulfan II (41.0%). OCP levels were compared with data from other international surveys. Calculated daily intakes of OCPs by way of consumption of the crop products included in this study according to data of the Serbian National Institute for Statistics were compared with the acceptable daily intakes established by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization. The average level of contamination of the Vojvodina diet was believed to be harmless regarding the studied food commodities.     

Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Bovine Milk

Monitoring of bovine milk of different places in Bundelkhand region of India was carried out to evaluate the status of organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues. Out of a total of 325 samples 206 (63.38%) were contaminated with residues of different OCPs. The average concentration of total HCH was 0.162 mg/kg. Among the different HCH isomers the frequency of occurrence of α-isomer was maximum followed by δ-, γ- and β. Endosulfan (α, β, sulfate) was detected in 89 samples with mean concentration of 0.0492 mg/kg while total DDT comprising of DDT, DDE and DDD was present in 114 samples having mean concentration of 0.1724 mg/kg. Dicofol was positive in 17 samples.     

Persistent Organochlorine Compounds in Human Milk Collected in Croatia Over Two Decades

The distribution and time trend of organochlorine pesticide (OCP), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/PCDF) concentrations in human milk samples from Croatia collected in 1981–2003 are presented. Between 1981/1982 and 1987/1989, the concentrations of HCB, β-HCH, DDE, and total PCBs decreased about 50%, while for the last decade, the concentrations have been decreasing very slowly. In 2002/2003 the range of PCB congeners and OCPs was from below the limit of determination to 332 ng g⁻¹ milk fat. PCDD/PCDF concentrations in human milk samples collected in 1981–2000 ranged between 5.2 and 26.7 pg I-TEQ g⁻¹ milk fat and showed a decreasing trend.     

Breast Milk Excretion Kinetic of β-HCH, pp′DDE and pp′DDT

Breast milk is considered the most important route in the elimination of deposited organochlorine pesticides in a mother’s body. The equilibrium of organochlorine pesticides in the human body considers the elements of internal transport processes, the equilibrium pattern between pesticides and tissue fat contents, and the mobilization of lipids and lipoproteins among body parts. The aim of this study was to determine organochlorine pesticide levels in breast milk samples from the 4th to the 30th day of lactation and the trend in their concentration time so as to forecast the time tendency of residue levels and the pesticide excretion pattern. Milk samples were taken from forty participants and analyzed by GLC-ECD. The organochlorine pesticide residues determined in the breast milk samples during lactation decreased: β-HCH from 0.095 to 0.066 mg/kg, pp′DDE from 1.807 to 1.423 mg/kg and pp′DDT from 0.528 to 0.405 mg/kg, at the characteristic rate for each compound. The obtained results compared with the calculated fits of forecasts were parallel and did not exhibit significant differences. The newborn baby exposed during lactation had organochlorine pesticide residues whose levels decreased permanently. The levels depended not only on the breast milk nutrition, but also on the total environmental exposures which included air pollution as a significant contamination source.     

Residues of Organochlorine Pesticides in Fish from the Gomti River,India

This study reports the levels and distribution patterns of some organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in fish samples of the Gomti river, India, collected from three sites. In the fish muscles ∑OCPs ranged between 2.58–22.56 ng g⁻¹ (mean value: 9.66 ± 5.60 ng g⁻¹). Neither spatial nor temporal trends could be observed in distribution of the OCPs. Aldrin was the predominant OCP, whereas, HCB and methoxychlor could not be detected. α-HCH and β-HCH among the isomers of HCH and pp-DDE among the metabolites of DDT were the most frequently detected OCPs. The results revealed that the fish of the Gomti river are contaminated with various OCPs.     

Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Inland Wetland Fishes of Karnataka, India and Their Implications on Human Dietary Intake

As part of a larger study assessing contamination status of inland wetlands of India, we evaluated the organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues in fishes collected from different inland wetlands in Karnataka, India and their suitability for human consumption. Among the OCPs tested, isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) were the most frequently detected with β- and γ-HCH as the main pollutants. Average concentration of ∑HCH and ∑DDT ranged from 2.1 to 51.7 μg/kg and below detection level to 12.3 μg/kg respectively. Other organochlorine pesticides such as heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin and endosulphan were found at lower levels. Among various fish species tested, the higher pesticide burden was recorded in Anguilla bicolor bicolour (77.9 μg/kg) and the lower was in Heteropneustes fossilis (2.1 μg/kg). OCPs detected in the present study were well below the tolerance limits recommended for fishes. The calculated daily dietary intake of OCPs in all the species examined was lower than the maximum acceptable dietary intake (ADI) limits prescribed for human consumption. However, continuous monitoring is recommended to facilitate the early identification of risks.     

Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls Levels in Human Milk from Chelem,Yucatán,México

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human milk from Chelem, Yucatan, Mexico were analyzed. Relatively high levels of p,p′-DDE, γ-chlordane, β-hexacyclohexane (β-HCH) and PCB congeners 170, 28, and 44 were found. Concentration profiles by OCP groups followed the next order: ΣDDTs > ΣChlordanes > ΣHCHs > ΣChlorobenzenes > ΣDrins. Total OCPs showed a decreasing tendency with number of births (primipara and multipara and age ranks) but these differences were not significant. ΣDDT levels were lower than in other studies in Mexico, but 36% of the samples exceeded the JMPR-FAO/WHO acceptable daily intake (ADI). About 60.53% of samples exceeded the ADI value for heptachlors.     

Organochlorine pesticides in water, sediment, crops, and human fluids in a farming community in Ghana

A total of 208 samples of water, sediment, tomato crops, blood, and mothers' breast milk were collected from the environs of Akumadan, a prominent vegetable-farming community in Ghana. The samples were analyzed for organochlorine (OC) pesticide residues. Lindane and endosulfan were found in water and sediment, while other OC pesticide residues, such as hexachlorobenzene (HCB), p,p′-DDE, and heptachlor epoxide, were additionally found in sediment. Heptachlor epoxide was the only OC residue detected in appreciable quantity in crops. Significantly higher HCB and p,p′-DDE residues were found in blood and milk samples. The mean values of HCB and p,p′-DDE in blood were 30 μg/kg and 380 μg/kg, respectively. The mean values of HCB and p,p′-DDE in milk were 40 μg/kg fat (1.75 μg/kg whole milk) and 490 μg/kg fat (17.15 μg/kg whole milk), respectively. The presence of OC pesticide residues in breast milk requires further monitoring and epidemiological studies to clarify possible detrimental health effects in breast-fed infants. Received: 29 June 2000/Accepted: 20 November 2000     

Distribution and Sources of Organochlorine Pesticides in Sediments from Typical Catchment of the Yangtze River, China

Residues of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) and their environmental risks in surface sediments collected from the rivers and lakes in Yangtze River Catchment of Wuhan, China, are investigated in this paper. Based on dry weight (dw), the concentrations of ΣHCH (α-, β-, and γ-HCH) and ΣDDT (p p′-DDT, o p′-DDT, p p′-DDE, p p′-DDD) in sediments ranged from 0.10 to 21.10 ng g⁻¹ (mean, 4.03 ng g⁻¹ dw) and 0.79 to 35.61 ng g⁻¹ dw (average, 6.93 ng g⁻¹ dw), respectively. Compared with some published guideline values of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sediments, the concentrations of HCHs were at safe levels while the DDT residues would pose adverse biological effects in this studied catchment. The distribution of OCPs in sediments indicated that the input of tributaries was an important factor for OCP residues in the mainstream of the Yangtze River. Levels of OCPs in the sediments were influenced by total organic carbon contents, clay contents, water contents, and pH values of sediments. The present study suggested that historical usage of technical HCH and DDT was the main reason for OCP residues in the sediments from both rivers and lakes. Furthermore, the composition of OCPs reflected additional sources of the holding usage of lindane and fresh inputs of dicofol mixture in this region.     

Assessment and Investigation on the Fate of Organochlorine Pesticides in Water and Sediments of International Amir-kalaye Wetland in North of Iran

A total of 48 water samples and 24 sediment samples were collected at four sampling stations along the wetland during four seasons from 2009 to 2010 and analyzed by gas chromatograph–electron capture detector (GC–ECD). In water the total concentration of OCPs was 0.33, 0.01, 0.1 and 0.07 mg/L in summer, autumn, winter and spring, respectively. The most frequent OCP compounds detected were endrin and chlordane (0.08 and 0.07 mg/L), heaxachlorobenzene and chlordane (0.06, 0.02 mg/L), and chlordane (0.07 mg/L) in summer, winter and spring, respectively. The maximum concentration of ΣOCPs was found in samples collected from station 1 in summer (0.26 mg/L). In sediments the total concentrations of OCPs were 15.84 and 2.62 mg/g-dry weight (dw) in summer and winter, respectively. Chlordane was the most frequently found OCP compound, followed by lindane, 9.92 and 2.47 mg/g-dry weight (dw), respectively, in summer. While, lindane (2.52 mg/g-dw) and endosulfan I (0.1 mg/g-dw) were the highest OCP compounds detected in winter. The results obtained in this study show that there still exist a variety of organochlorine pesticide residues in the water and sediments from the Amir-kalaye wetland in Iran.     

Organochlorine Pesticide Levels in Ensis siliqua (Linnaeus, 1758) from Ría de Vigo, Galicia (N.W. Spain): Influence of Season, Condition Index and Lipid Content

Levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), including ΣDDTs, γ-HCH, HCB, aldrin, isodrin, trans-nonachlor, heptachlor and dieldrin, were determined in the razor clam, Ensis siliqua, collected monthly from February 2003 to April 2004 from the Islas Cíes in Ría de Vigo (Galicia, Spain). The sum of DDTs ranged from 2.17 to 26.9 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (dw). Principal component analysis showed seasonal trends in the levels of some OCPs (γ-HCH and dieldrin). Pearson correlations (p < 0.05) were observed between OCP levels and the biometric parameters of condition index and body lipids.     

Polychlorinated Biphenyl and Organochlorine Pesticide Levels in Human Breast Milk from the Mediterranean city Antalya,Turkey

In this study, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyles (PCBs) levels were determined in 100 human milk samples from the city of Antalya. The levels of seven major PCB congeners; 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180 and nine OCPs, α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, HCB, heptachlor epoxide, p.p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, endosulfan-α and endosulfan-β were determined by gas chromatography with ECD detection. The levels of analyzed compounds were as follows: ΣPCBs 27.46 ± 11.58, ΣDDT 1,407 ± 123, and ΣBHC 160 ± 490 ng/g lipid wt.basis. PCB 153 and p,p′-DDE were the dominant contaminants. The results have been discussed and compared with similar studies from other regions of Turkey.     

A comparison of organochlorine pesticide residues in maternal adipose tissue,maternal blood,cord blood,and human milk from mother/infant pairs

A total of 41 samples of maternal blood, milk, subcutaneous fat and umbilical cord blood were collected from mothers giving birth by Caesarean operation at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi in 1986. The samples were analyzed for organochlorine contaminants. The main contaminants found in all the samples were p,p-DDT (100%), p,p-DDE (100%), o,p-DDT (59%), dieldrin (27%), transnonachlor (15%), -HCH (12%) and lindane (2%) of all the samples analyzed. Polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) residues were not detected in any of the samples.The mean levels (mg/kg fat) of sum of DDT were 5.9 in subcutaneous fat, 4.8 in mothers milk, 2.7 in maternal serum and 1.9 in umbilical cord serum. There was a significant correlation between the levels of sum DDT in subcutaneous fat and milk fat (r=0.963), subcutaneous fat and maternal serum fat (r=0.843), and maternal serum fat and maternal milk fat (r=0.868), indicating the coherence of DDT in the body.Hexachlorocyclohexane (-HCH) was found in subcutaneous fat and milk fat with the mean levels of 0.03 and 0.26 mg/kg fat, respectively. Dieldrin detected in mothers milk and subcutaneous fat could not be quantified.     

Occurrence and Ordination of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and Hexachlorocyclohexane in Agricultural Soils from Guangzhou,China

On a global scale tropical regions in developing countries are thought to be significant source areas of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), owing to a long history of widespread use and only a recent production ban or restriction on the application of these pesticides. In the present study, 32 soil samples were collected in 2004 from agriculture lands around the urban area of Guangzhou, in southern China, and analyzed for residues of OCPs including p,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDE, p,p’-DDD, and α-, β-, γ-, and δ-HCH. The dry weight concentrations of ΣHCH (ΣHCH = α-HCH + β-HCH + γ-HCH + δ-HCH) ranged from 0.2 to 103.9 ng/g, with a median of 4.4 ng/g. Residues of ΣDDT (ΣDDT = p,p’-DDT + p,p’-DDE + p,p’-DDD) ranged from 7.6 to 662.9 ng/g, with a median of 67.3 ng/g. The predominance of β-HCH among HCHs in most soil samples suggested that they were from historical contamination rather than recent input. The mean HCH α/γ-ratio of 2.72 was lower than that of technical HCHs, possibly due to more loss of α-HCH via evaporation from soil with time, conversion of γ-HCH to α-HCH or recent application of lindane in the region. The mean ratio of (DDE + DDD)/ΣDDT was 0.54, indicating that quite a portion of DDT in soils was degraded since its official ban in 1983. Higher DDT concentrations with lower (DDE + DDD)/ΣDDT ratios at a few sites suggested possible local DDT sources via the application of Dicofol. A positive but weak correlation (r = 0.449, p < 0.01) between DDT residues and TOC contents implied that soil organic matter might enhance adsorption of DDT in soils in the tropical regions. Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis were also performed to study the distribution and compositional patterns of OCPs as well as their sources and environemtal fates within the study area.     

Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Human Blood Samples Collected from Haryana,India and the Changing Pattern

Blood samples were collected during August 1992 and August 2002 from various hospitals of Haryana state and analyzed for the presence of HCH and DDT residues and the change in concentration of pesticide residues was calculated in terms of % reduction. The study revealed that the mean residue levels of total HCH in human blood samples have declined by 87.6 % while those of total DDT have decreased by 98.9 % during a gap of 10 years. The obtained results reveal that during 1992 p,p′-DDT was the major component with the mean value of 6.125 mg/L followed by p,p′-DDE, γ-HCH, α-HCH and β-HCH while in 2002, β-HCH and p,p′-DDE were comparable with mean value of 0.053 and 0.052 mg/L, respectively followed by p,p′-DDT, α-HCH and p,p′-DDD.     

Levels of Organochlorine Pesticides Residues in Human Adipose Tissue,Data from Tabasco,Mexico

The objective of this study was to determine the levels of organochlorine pesticides HCB, α-β-γ-HCH, p,p′-DDE, o,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDT in 150 adipose tissue of inhabitants of Tabasco, Mexico. The following pesticides were detected: p,p′-DDE in 100 % of samples at mean 1.034 mg/kg; p,p′-DDT in 96.7 % at mean 0.116 mg/kg; o,p′-DDT in 78.7 % at mean 0.022 mg/kg and β-HCH in 58.0 % at mean 0.049 mg/kg. The pooled sample was divided according to sex of donors (75 female and 75 male). Significantly higher levels of all organochlorine pesticides in females were found. The sample was divided into three age’s ranges (15–28, 29–45 and 46–84 years). The mean and median levels of β-HCH, p,p’-DDE and Σ-DDT increase significantly (p < 0.05) from the first to the second and third group. The presence of organochlorine pesticide residues in Tabasco inhabitants is still observed, indicating sources of exposure to the pesticides.     

Distribution of Chlorinated Organic Pollutants in a Wide Variety of Soils from Europe and Asia: A Multivariate Statistical Approach

Principal component analysis was used to interpret the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) previously determined in a wide variety of soils from Europe and Asia to (1) examine the interdependencies among them and chosen soil charaeteristics and (2) reveal PCB– and OCP–soil patterns throughout Europe and Asia. Loading values suggested correlations between the levels of certain compounds and soil characteristics, revealing the underlying structure of analyzed data; humus content, pH, and density correlated with the contents of p,p’-DDT, β-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and γ-HCH, and clay content correlated with the concentrations of α-HCH and PCB 28. Component scores reflected relatively low concentrations of six “marker” PCBs in most of the soils, pointing out the outliers in the proximity of the local PCB sources. PCB loads in the 1990s and early 2000s were lower than the ones in 1980 and 1956, and they coincided with the soil levels in 1944. PCBs 138, 153, and 180 had the greatest influence of the six investigated congeners on soil-pattern differences. In relation to the OCP soil loads, the score plot revealed regions with recent and/or enhanced application of DDT and HCH.     

深圳市母乳中六六六和滴滴涕蓄积水平与影响因素分析

目的了解深圳市普通居民产妇母乳中六六六(HCHs)和滴滴涕(DDTs)的蓄积水平,并分析其影响因素,评估婴儿暴露风险。方法采集85位在深圳地区居住时间3年或以上、初产妇产后4～6周的母乳。样品经提取后,用凝胶渗透色谱和弗罗里硅土固相微萃取柱净化,采用气相色谱-电子俘获检测器(GC-ECD)检测母乳中六六六、滴滴涕(包括α-六六六、β-六六六、γ-六六六、δ-六六六、p,p’-滴滴涕、p,p’-滴滴滴、p,p’-滴滴异、o,p’-滴滴涕等8种同分异构体)的残留。通过问卷调查,分析母乳中六六六、滴滴涕的含量水平与产妇膳食情况、年龄、当地居住时间等因素进行相关性关系。结果所有母乳样品均检出p,p’-DDE,58份样品中检出β-HCH。母乳中∑HCHs的中位数为2.980ng/g(全重计),80.200ng/g(脂肪计)。∑DDTs的中位数为9.610ng/g(全重计),268.390ng/g(脂肪计)。统计分析发现,母乳中六六六、滴滴涕含量与产妇年龄、淡水鱼的消费量、禽肉的消费量呈正相关关系。结论深圳市居民母乳中检出了六六六、滴滴涕,其含量水平与年龄及膳食情况存在相关关系。婴儿六六六、滴滴涕的平均摄入估计值分别为0.468和1.842μg/(kg.d BW),均低于我国卫生部及FAO/WHO农药残留联席会议推荐的每日容许摄入量(ADI)。深圳市当地居民母乳中六六六和滴滴涕负荷水平低于全国平均水平。     

Organochlorine Pesticide Gradient Levels Among Maternal Adipose Tissue,Maternal Blood Serum and Umbilical Blood Serum

The objective of the present study was to determine levels and calculate ratios of copartition coefficients among organochlorine pesticides β-HCH, pp′DDE, op′DDT and pp′DDT in maternal adipose tissue, maternal blood serum and umbilical blood serum of mother-infant pairs from Veracruz, Mexico. Organochlorine pesticides were analyzed in 70 binomials: maternal adipose tissue, maternal serum and umbilical cord serum samples, using gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD). The results were expressed as mg/kg on fat basis. p,p′-DDE was the major organochlorine component, detected in every maternal adipose tissue (0.770 mg/kg), maternal serum sample (5.8 mg/kg on fat basis) and umbilical cord blood sample (6.9 mg/kg on fat basis). p,p′-DDT was detected at 0.101 mg/kg, 2.2 mg/kg and 5.9 mg/kg respectively, according to the order given above. β-HCH was detected at 0.027 mg/kg, 4.2 mg/kg and 28.0 mg/kg respectively. op′DDT was detected only in maternal adipose tissue at 0.011 mg/kg. The copartition coefficients among samples identify significant increases in concentrations from adipose tissue to maternal blood serum and to umbilical blood serum. The increase indicated that maternal adipose tissue released organochlorine pesticides to blood serum and that they are carried over to umbilical cord blood.     

Endocrine-Disrupting Organochlorine Pesticides in Human Breast Milk: Changes during Lactation

The aim of the present study was to assess infant safety associated with the occurrence of endocrine-disrupting organochlorine pesticides (OCP) in breast milk. Moreover, the association between pregnant mothers’ dietary habits and these compounds levels in breast milk was investigated. Breast milk was collected at various stages of lactation. The samples were analyzed by the GC-MS method. The OCP concentrations ranged from < limit of detection (LOD) to 6.81 ng/g lipids. The highest OCP concentrations in breast milk occurred primarily within the first month of lactation, and decreased over the lactation period. It was found that the maternal consumption of certain food products—in particular pork, beef, poultry, eggs, and dairy products—could have affected the content of 1,1’-(2,2,2-Trichloroethane-1,1-diyl)bis(4-chlorobenzene), called DDT and its metabolites in the breast milk. The levels of beta-endosulfan were positively correlated with fish and poultry consumption. The redundancy analysis indicated that the diets of the pregnant women had an important impact on pesticide residues in the breast milk. There is a potential possibility of lowering the content of organochlorine compounds in breast milk by adhering to nutritional recommendations, e.g., avoiding the excessive consumption of fish and other raw food materials of unknown origin.