Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites in dairy milk and milk products of Agra City, India

bovine milk, milk products and in the environmental samples has been reported. Therefore, a study was undertaken to monitor the trace levels of DDT and its metabolites in dairy milk and butter samples of Agra city, India to assess the risk to the consumers and seasonal variability. Analysis of DDT from milk and butter samples were done by using the method standardized in the laboratory. During the year 2002-2003 milk samples were collected for the analysis of DDT and its metabolites in different seasons viz. winter, summer and rainy season. During winter seasons 28 samples of milk were analyzed and only 19 samples were found to be positive with the o, p-DDT, p, p-DDT and p, p-DDE metabolites of DDT while in summer and rainy seasons only 15 and 20 were found positive from out of 28 and 27 samples. The total DDT (o, p-DDT, +p, p-DDT+p, p-DDE) residues were 36.8 9, 33.2 9, 23.9x10 9 during winter, summer and rainy seasons, respectively. In the present study, during 2002-2003 out of 83 dairy milk samples only 54 (65.10%) were found to be positive with DDT residues. Similarly, out of 21, 20 and 19 butter samples, 13, 12 and 12 samples were positive with DDT residues. The total DDT residue concentrations were 26.1  10 9, 23.8 10 -9 and 22.4 10 -9 during winter, summer and rainy seasons, respectively. Tolerance limit for the DDT residues in milk and butter samples is 0.05x10 "6 (on whole milk basis) and 1.25 -6 prescribed by prevention of food adulteration, India (PFA, 1986). None of the milk and butter samples showed total DDT residues above are higher than the tolerance limit. The total DDT concentrations were 36.8 9, 33.2x 10 -9 and 23.9x 10 -9 in winter summer and rainy seasons, respectively while the same pattern of residues was observed in butter samples. Maximum permissible intake (MPI) and theoretical maximum residue contribution (TMRC) were calculated for DDT in milk and butter. These values also indicated that milk and butter are safe for consumption.