Quantification of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in the Buffalo Milk Samples of Delhi City, India

The ill effects of green revolution include residues of extensively used chemical pesticides in various environmental components. The present study was designed to analyze the levels of organochlorine pesticide residues along with chemical composition in buffalo milk samples collected from different localities of Delhi. Milk monitoring can yield information about the kinds and quantities of pesticides in the environment as well as in our daily diet. In this study, the residue of three different organochlorine pesticides, namely Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and Endosulfan have been reported. Residues of Lindane exceeded the Maximum Residual Limit values in 50% of the samples is a cause of serious concern. The p,p’-DDT was detected in 70% of the samples with p,p’-DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) in 80% of the milk samples of different parts of Delhi state. DDD (Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane) another metabolite of p,p’-DDT was detected in 65% of the milk samples. The analysis indicates that DDT is the major contaminants in different parts of Delhi state. α and β endosulfan were detected in 35% and 40% of the samples analyzed. The statistical correlation shows no significant correlation between chemical compositions of the samples. The presence of multiple chemicals in virtually all samples of buffalo milk raises new questions about the possible toxicological impacts of chemical mixtures on an infant’s developing nervous and immune systems and reproductive organs.