Organochlorine pesticide residues in commercial pasteurised milk in Mexico City

Abstract

Milk products are frequently contaminated with toxic organochlorine pesticides. The level of organochlorine pesticide residues of 96 pasteurised milk samples was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. The samples were collected from four milk industries in Mexico City. The pesticides found in the pasteurised milk samples, their average values, the average value/MRL ratio, and sample percentages exceeding the Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) were respectively: (a+b)-HCH, 0.22 µg/g, 2.21, (47.9%), Lindane, 0.07 µg/g, 0.38, (8.3%), Aldrin + Dieldrin, 0.25 µg/g, 1.67, (39.5%), Heptachlor + Heptachlor epoxide, 0.15 µg/g, 1.00, (23.9%), Endrin, 0.05 µg/g 2.70, (37.5%), DDT and metabolites, 0.12 µg/g, 0.10, (0.0%).

A follow up study in the control of organochlorine pesticides present in Mexican pasteurised milk is recommended.