DDT residues in samples of human milk, and in mothers' and cord blood serum, in a continental town in Croatia (Yugoslavia)

Abstract

Concentrations of p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, and p,p'-DDT were determined in 34 samples of human milk obtained 3-5 days after delivery and in 37 samples obtained at later times of lactation (up to 55 weeks). All samples contained p,p'-DDE, but only several contained p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDT. The concentrations of p,p'-DDE were 31 microgram/l in the beginning of lactation and 53 microgram/l at later time intervals. The concentration ranges in both groups overlap almost completely and the difference in the mean values is not significant. Serum samples from 35 mothers and cord blood were also analyzed. All samples contained p,p'-DDE, the concentrations being 18 microgram/l and 6.8 microgram/l in the mothers' and cord blood serum, respectively. Serum samples of 24 non-pregnant women contained the same amount of p,p'-DDE (20 microgram/l) as mothers' sera. All samples were collected in a continental town of Croatia (Yugoslavia) between 1977 and 1979. The concentrations of DDT residues were determined by gas chromatography, and two methods for extraction from milk were used and compared.