Organochlorine pesticide residues in cow's milk and butter in Mexico

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 1997-12, Vol.208 (1), p.127-132
• Main Authors: Waliszewski, S.M., Pardío, V.T., Waliszewski, K.N., Chantiri, J.N., Aguirre, A.A., Infanzón, R.M., Rivera, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Animals; BEURRE; Biological and medical sciences; BUTTER; Cattle; COMPOSE ORGANOCHLORE; COMPUESTO ORGANICO DEL CLORO; COW MILK; Cow's milk; DDT; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Monitoring; Food Contamination; Food industries; Food toxicology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HCH; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Insecticides - analysis; Insecticides - pharmacokinetics; LAIT DE VACHE; LECHE DE VACA; MANTEQUILLA; Medical sciences; MEXICO; MEXIQUE; Milk - chemistry; ORGANOCHLORINE COMPOUNDS; Organochlorine pesticide; PESTICIDE; PESTICIDES; PLAGUICIDAS; RESIDU; Residue level; RESIDUES; RESIDUOS; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/S0048-9697(97)00270-2

This monitoring study of 355 samples of cow's milk collected from the central region of Veracruz state and 448 samples of national butter brands was conducted to determine the contamination levels of organochlorine pesticides. The results obtained for mean HCH levels were 0.094 and 0.093 mg/kg on fat basis in cow's milk and butter samples, respectively. The mean DDT levels were 0.159 and 0.049 mg/kg, respectively. In relation to cow's milk, the total HCH levels in Veracruz state were higher but total DDT levels were comparable to those reported in other countries. On the other hand, organochlorine levels detected in national brand butter samples were lower than those found in other countries, where these pesticides are still used in sanitary actions. These results confirmed that dairy products in Mexico presented organochlorine pesticide residues (owing to their use in sanitary actions) indicating a human exposure through these food products.