Abstract

Organochlorine pollutants are prevalent worldwide concern which needs urgent attention. In present study traces of organocholorine micro-pollutants (o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDE) and DDT were determined in 22 samples of mother’s milk collected from 2 different maternity hospitals from Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, India. Donors were interviewed with respect to factors that may affect accumulation of these compounds such as parity, age, place of residence, workplace, dietry habits, any previous miscarriages, and education with the help of a questionnaire. The analysis was done by GCMS. The minute traces of organochlorine pollutants (OCPs) in samples from 3 rural areas of Kalaburagi district were detected. Total DDT, p,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDE were analyzed in almost 80% of the mother’s milk samples analyzed. A positive correlation was observed between traces of contaminants and consumption of non-vegetarian diet. This implies that the parameter might play an important role in influencing OCPs burdens in lactating women. The traces of contaminants in mother’s milk were between 5 ng g^-1 to 9 ng g^-1 the results are within acceptable range and safe.