Levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in pasteurized milk sold in São Paulo City between 1980 and 1981

Abstract

Samples of three commercial brands of grade B pasteurized milk were collected in São Paulo city, of which 36 were colleeted in 1980 and 12 in 1981. All samples were tested for the presence of residues of organochlorinated pesticides by using gas-Iiquid chromatography with electron-capture detector. The levels of residual pesticides ranged from 0.02 mg/kg to 0.70 mg/kg for total HCH and from 0.00 to 0.22 mg/kg for DDT summation. In 1981, the ranges were 0.10 to 0.33 mg/kg for total HCH and 0.00 to 0.10 mg/kg for DDT summation. The plot of medians showed higher values for HCH in 1980 compared with 1981 and the previously reported values for 1979. Low levels of Dieldrin were detected in 72% of the 1980 samples and in 50% of the 1981 samples. All values were calculated in milk fato.