Organo-chlorine Pesticide Residues in Human Fat and Human Milk

Abstract

Using gas chromatographic techniques, 65 samples of human perirenal fat collected post mortem, two more taken from patients by subcutaneous biopsy, and 19 samples of human breast milk were analysed quantitatively for D.D.E., D.D.T., total B.H.C. isomers, and dieldrin (H.E.O.D.). The material studied was derived from sources throughout England and Wales. Apart from one anomalous finding from a recent immigrant the levels in the fat ranged from 0.2 to 8.5 p.p.m. for total D.D.T.-equivalent (mean 3.3), from a trace to 1.0 p.p.m. for total B.H.C. (mean 0.42), and from a trace to 0.9 p.p.m. for dieldrin (mean 0.26). In human breast milk the corresponding figures were 0.075 to 0.170 for total D.D.T.-equivalent, 0.009 to 0.033 for total B.H.C., and 0.002 to 0.013 for dieldrin. © 1965, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.