High levels of DDT in breast milk : intake, risk, lactation duration, and involvement of gender

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Authors

Bouwman, Hindrik
Kylin, Henrik
Sereda, Barbara
Bornman, Maria S. (Riana)

Journal Title

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Volume Title

Publisher

Elsevier

Abstract

We investigated presence and levels of DDT in 163 breast milk samples from four South African villages where, in three of them, malaria is controlled with DDT-sprayed indoors. Mean SDDT levels in breast milk were 18, 11, and 9.5 mg/kg mf (milk fat) from the three DDT-sprayed villages, respectively, including the highest SDDT level ever reported for breast milk from South Africa (140 mg/kg mf). Understanding the causes for these differences would be informative for exposure reduction intervention. The Provisional Tolerable Daily Intake (PTDI) for DDT by infants, and the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) were significantly exceeded. DDT had no effect on duration of lactation. There were indications (not significant) from DDT-sprayed villages that first-born female infants drink milk with more SDDT than firstborn male infants, and vice versa for multipara male and female infants, suggesting gender involvement on levels of DDT in breast milk e requiring further investigation.

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Keywords

Breast milk, South Africa, Malaria control, Indoor residual spray, Maximum residue limit, Provisional tolerable daily intake

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Hindrik Bouwman, Henrik Kylin, Barbara Sereda & Bornman Riana, 'High levels of DDT in breast milk : Intake, risk, lactation duration, and involvement of gender', Environmental Pollution, vol. 170, pp. 63-70 (2012), doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.06.009.