ORGANIC CHLORINATED PESTICIDES AND POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS IN HUMAN-MILK FROM NORTHERN BAVARIA

From 1984 to 1990 a total of 1600 samples of human milk was analysed in Landesuntersuchungsamt Nordbayern, Erlangen, FRG with regard to residues of persistent organic chlorinated pesticides (OC) and contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and assessed on the guideline values set up by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). The statistically calculated dates are reported and some toxicological and biological aspects are discussed. There exist correlations of residue levels to number of children, women age, and their body weight, the latter only for PCB. During our test period of seven years, contents of OC decreased obviously, otherwise for PCB, there was neither decrease nor increase. The average values of OC and PCB were compared to the results of other German laboratories, showing sometimes considerable differences in contamination.