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Monitoring of Pesticide Residues in Human Breast Milk from Punjab, India and Its Correlation with Health Associated Parameters

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Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the present status of pesticide residues in breast milk from Punjab. A total of 127 breast milk samples were analyzed and pesticide residues were detected in 25 % of the milk samples. Residues of cyfluthrin, fenvalerate, cypermethrin, profenophos, γ-HCH, β-HCH, chlorpyriphos, monocrotophos, p,p′ DDE and phosalone were detected with mean levels of 63.04, 11.69, 3.63, 2.66, 2.64, 2.29, 1.91, 1.63, 0.56 and 0.29 ng g−1, respectively. Cyfluthrin was leading pesticide detected in breast milk contributing 31.28 % to the total residue load. It was observed that the residue levels were decreasing with increase in parity and age of mother and cyfluthrin had highest mean concentration of 90.63 ng g−1 in the first parity and 21.11 ng g−1 in youngest age group. Residue levels were higher in urban population than the rural population although, statistically non-significant difference was found between the two (p > 0.05).

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Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to all milk sample donors who took part in this study. We are thankful to School of Public Health and Zoonoses, GADVASU, Ludhiana, Punjab for providing funding for undertaking this research work. We are also thankful to Dr. Baljit Singh, Associate Dean Research, Western college of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, for his supreme guidance throughout the research work. Thanks are also due to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, for giving permission to collect the samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health and Zoonoses, GADVASU, Ludhiana, 141004, India

    Anupama Sharma, J. P. S. Gill & J. S. Bedi

  2. Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India

    P. A. Pooni

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  1. Anupama Sharma
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  2. J. P. S. Gill
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  3. J. S. Bedi
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  4. P. A. Pooni
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Correspondence to Anupama Sharma.

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Sharma, A., Gill, J.P.S., Bedi, J.S. et al. Monitoring of Pesticide Residues in Human Breast Milk from Punjab, India and Its Correlation with Health Associated Parameters. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 93, 465–471 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1326-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1326-2

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