Abstract

Breast milk is often used as an environmental bioindicator since it serves as an important medium to accumulate organochlorine pesticides. The main aim of this study is to determine the level of organochlorine pesticides in human breast milk collected from three districts of southwestern Ethiopia (Asendabo, Deneba, and Serbo) at three times points baselines (1st month), midline ( six months), and end line (12 months) and risk of infants’ exposure. A longitudinal study was conducted to assess pesticide residues in human breast milk samples and evaluate the risk-exposure of infants to these pesticides from consumption of mother’s milk in Ethiopia. Breast milk samples were collected from 168 mothers at three time points and pesticides were extracted using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method. The level of pesticide residues in human milk samples and exposure of infants to the pesticides was evaluated by calculating the estimated daily intake and compared with the provisional tolerable daily intake of the pesticides under study. The results indicated that, from the eight organochlorine pesticides analyzed in 447 breast milk samples at three sampling times, DDT and its metabolites were detected. p,p′-DDE and p,p′-DDT were detected in all (100%) of the breast milk samples while, p,p-DDD, and o,p-DDT were detected in 53.9%, and 42.7%, respectively. The mean concentration of total DDT at three time points(baseline, midline and endline) were 2.25, 1.68 and 1.32 µg/g milk fat, respectively. The mean concentration of total DDT from the three districts was 1.85 µg/g milk fat which is above the maximum residue limit (MRL = 0.02 µg/g milk fat set by FAO/WHO). The mean ratio of DDT/DDE for the three areas was calculated less than five (< 5) indicates historical DDT use in the study area. The estimated daily intake of infants at the first month of breastfeeding was 11.24 µg/kg-BW/day, above the provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI) for total DDT set by FAO/WHO, which is 10 µg/kg body weight. An intake of OCPs is a big concern for infants' health in Ethiopia and countries with a similar condition, particularly at the first month of lactation. Strict regulations of the health-threatening pesticide by the regulatory body (Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission) at the country and regional levels is advocated.

Highlights

  • Breast milk is often used as an environmental bioindicator since it serves as an important medium to accumulate organochlorine pesticides

  • This was in the acceptable analytical range (70–120%) and indicated all the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) under study were well recovered by using the QuEChERS method

  • This may be due to the haphazard use of this pesticide in the area or due to the three regions in our study where malaria-endemic through the use of DDT was common

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Summary

Introduction

Breast milk is often used as an environmental bioindicator since it serves as an important medium to accumulate organochlorine pesticides. The main aim of this study is to determine the level of organochlorine pesticides in human breast milk collected from three districts of southwestern Ethiopia (Asendabo, Deneba, and Serbo) at three times points baselines (1st month), midline ( six months), and end line (12 months) and risk of infants’ exposure. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, heptachlor-epoxide, lindane, and other similar agrochemicals have been used worldwide, for several decades As this wide intensive use triggered environmental, before 15 years, Ethiopia declared it as one of a national p­ roblem[2]. DDT application was stopped following the development of resistance to DDT among the malaria disease ­vectors[7] Their long-term uses and persistent nature bring them as ambiguous contaminants in the environment and cause risks to human health. Their foods are less varied, and this allows for a greater opportunity for continuous exposure to environmental contaminants, including organochlorine p­ esticides[12]

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