Organochlorine pesticide residues in human milk samples from women living in Northwest and Northeast Mississippi, 1973-75

Organochlorine pesticide analyses were performed on human milk samples obtained from 34 women living in the Mississippi Delta, a high pesticide usage area, and from six women living in Starkville, Mississippi, a low pesticide usage area. Nine women collected samples before and after their babies had nursed so that fat levels and sigma DDT levels could be compared on whole milk and milk fat bases. sigma DDT values were independent of collection time if calculated on a milk fat basis, but not if calculated on a whole milk basis. Thus, the most consistent indicator of DDT residues were values calculated on a milk fat basis. Residue levels for p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, and sigma DDT were significantly different (P less than 0.01) in samples from the two areas. Residues of o,p'-DDT, beta-BHC, and oxychlordane in milk samples from women living in the high pesticide usage area also were significantly different (P less than 0.05). A mean value of 19.17 ppm sigma DDT, found in the milk fat of samples from the high pesticide usage area, is the highest ever reported. Samples from the low pesticide usage area contained a mean level of 2.36 ppm sigma DDT.