REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANOCHLORINE INSECTICIDE RESIDUES IN HUMAN-MILK FROM EGYPT

The organochlorine insecticide residues in 60 human milk samples from 20 Egyptian governorates were analyzed by gas chromatography/electron capture and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The results showed t hat the main detected organochlorine insecticides were p,p'-DDE and li ndane. Other HCH isomers, p,p'-DDT and endosulfan I residues were dete cted in some samples, but aldrin and endrin were not detected in most of the samples. The mean values for p,p'-DDE, lindane, endosulfan I an d p,p'-DDT levels in the milk samples of the 20 governorates studied w ere 21.37 ppb, 8.42 ppb, 4.84 ppb and 2.93 ppb respectively, which are lower than the levels reported, a number of years ago, in most of the developed countries. Relatively higher levels of organochlorine insec ticide residues were recorded in the samples from intensive agricultur al activity regions.