Persistent organochlorine pesticides residues in cow and goat milks collected from different regions of Ethiopia

The present study investigated the bioaccumulation of organochlorines in two milk-producing animals (goats and cows) grazed on the same feed to explore the extent of organochlorines availability in milk and any species effect on the bioaccumulation pattern. Six organochlorine pesticides: aldrin, alpha-endosulfan, 8-endosulfan, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDT were determined in samples collected from four regions in Ethiopia. Aldrin (11.6 mu g kg(-1)) was detected only in one cow milk sample and ct-endosulfan was detected in one goat milk sample at a level of 142.1 mu g kg(-1), and in one cow milk sample (47.8 mu g kg(-1)) from the same region. p,p'-DDE was detected in 40% of the milk samples analyzed while o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDT were found in high amounts in almost all samples. The average total DDT (excluding DOD) in the samples was 328.5 mu g kg(-1). Regions known for their malaria epidemics were the most contaminated with DDT residue. The accumulation pattern in both species was not clear under natural sampling. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.