title: Analysis of breast milk to assess exposure to chlorinated contaminants in Kazakstan: PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in southern Kazakstan.
abstract: Organochlorine pesticides (OC) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in samples of breast milk taken from 92 donors representative of regional populations in southern Kazakstan. The World Health Organization protocol for assessing levels of chlorinated contaminants in breast milk was followed. The most prevalent OC residues were beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH), p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, hexachlorobenzene, and alpha-HCH. The measured levels of beta-HCH were among the highest reported in the published literature. Data from Aralsk, near the Aral Sea, indicated continuing DDT exposure. Overall PCB-toxic equivalent levels (22 pg/g fat) were similar to those reported in industrialized European countries. PCBs were highest in Atyrau in the Caspian oilfields.
authors.affiliation: Hazardous Materials Laboratory, California EPA, Berkeley, CA 94704-1011, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hopper
authors.forename: M X
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Petreas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: She
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Visita
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKinney
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mok
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcha
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Semenova
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sharmanov
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chuvakova
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hopper
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007623:Kazakhstan; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011634:Public Health
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls