DETERMINATION OF ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDE CONTENT IN HUMAN-MILK AND INFANT FORMULAS USING SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION AND CAPILLARY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY

The differences in the organochlorine pesticide contents of human milk and infant formulas are examined. Twenty-six organochlorine pesticides were routinely extracted from milk by means of a solid phase system into n-hexane. An aliquot of n-hexane was injected into a GC equipped with an electron capture or mass spectrometry detector. Advantages of this method include high sensitivity, analysis time of 45 min after a single extraction, and high recovery. Fifteen human milk samples and 45 infant formula samples, which cover the whole range of products offered in the market (starting formula, follow-up formula, adapted formula, and specialized formulas developed for premature or low birth weight infants, infants intolerant to milk proteins or lactose, infants with fat absorption problems, and infants with inborn errors of metabolism). The organochlorine pesticide content found in human milk was higher than in infant formulas.