Organochlorine compounds in human milk and food of animal origin in samples from Croatia.

Human milk and food of animal origin (milk, meat, and fish) have been analysed over several decades for the DDT-complex, PCBs, HCB, and HCH-isomers. Human milk has also been analysed for PCDDs and PCDFs. Human milk samples were collected in six inland sites and one island, and food samples in marketplaces and individual households throughout Croatia. All human milk samples contained DDE and PCBs, and almost all food samples contained the DDT-complex. All analysed pools of human milk contained PCDDs and PCDFs. Levels of most analysed compounds show a decreasing trend over the past decade. The obtained data were the basis for the calculation of the daily intake of organochlorine compounds in breast-fed infants and adults.