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Page No. : 87–91

ABSTRACT

The present study was undertaken to ascertain the levels of organochlorine pesticide (OCPs) residues in market milk. The detectable levels of pesticides were found in all the samples of market milk collected from different areas of Punjab. HCH was found to be the most predominant pesticide detected comprising an average of 53% of total OCP residues in milk; DDT and dieldrin comprised of 43% and 2%, respectively, while heptachlor and aldrin each comprised one per cent. Average level of total HCH residues in market milk was 0.042 mg/kg. In market milk, α-, β-, γ- and δ-HCH residues were found in 79.7%, 60.9%, 100% and 31.3% samples, respectively. Average level of total DDT residue in market milk was 0.0334 mg/kg. Various metabolites of DDT in milk were found in the form of p,p-TDE, p,p-DDE and p,p-DDT in 93.7%, 82.8% and 45.3% samples, respectively. Persistent OCPs such as DDT and its derivatives, isomers of HCH pose toxicological and ecological impact due to their lipophilic nature and persistence in biotic and abiotic components of an environment.

Keywords: DDT, HCH, milk, organochlorine, OCPs, pesticide residues