Evidence of some trace elements, organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in Slovenian cow's milk

From year 1994 to 1998 samples of raw cow's milk from 19 dairy locations we re examined for residues of trace elements. Ph contents in all 188 samples corresponded to tolerance level (0.1 mg/kg) and in 98 % of these samples we re below 0.05 mg/kg. All samples examined for residues of Cd (133), As (67) and total Hg (48) were completely acceptable as well. Cd and As residues w ere under detectable levels, while the highest total Hg value was 0.007 mg/ kg. Residue levels of organochlorine pesticides in all 174 analysed samples were far below tolerance levels, too, in 90 % of samples alpha-HCH and in 86 % of samples lindane was below the limit of detection (0.003 mg/kg of fa t). The highest alpha-HCH and lindane content was 0.008 and 0.023 mg/kg of fat, respectively. The level of heptachlor was below the limit of detection (0.003 mg/kg of fat). In 93.1 % of samples total DDT residues were between <0.005 and 0.02 mg/kg of fat, while the median and highest values were 0.0 07 and 0.091 mg/kg of fat, respectively. 108 samples were examined for PCB residues with the highest residue level of 0.14 mg of total PCB/kg of fat c ontent. The median residue level was 0.005 mg of total PCB/kg of fat, which is 200 times lower than tolerance. 87 % of samples contained PCB residues between 0.002 and 0.08 mg PCB/kg of fat.