TY - JOUR
T1 - A review on the usage of POP pesticides in China, with emphasis on DDT loadings in human milk
AU - Wong, Ming Hung
AU - Leung, Anna Oi Wah
AU - Chan, J. K.Y.
AU - Choi, M. P.K.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank our colleagues for the provision of data used in this manuscript. Financial support from Group Research (HKBU 1/03C), Central Allocation of Research Grants Council of Hong Kong and the Croucher Foundation is gratefully acknowledged. The materials of this paper were partially presented in two meetings: the China–US Bilateral Workshop on POPs held in Beijing (March 2004), and also the International Conference on Environmental and Public Health Management: Persistent Toxic Substances held in Hong Kong (November 2004).
PY - 2005/8
Y1 - 2005/8
N2 - This article attempts to review the usage of nine pesticides included in the 12 Stockholm Convention persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in China and to examine the extent of DDT contamination in human milk, focusing on the Chinese populations. By comparing all the data available concerning DDTs in human milk from 19 countries, it is revealed that the Chinese populations exhibit rather high concentrations of DDTs, due to the fact that China has been a major producer and consumer of DDTs in the past, and also uses DDT for vector control, resulting in higher background levels of DDTs in different ecological compartments. The high body loading of DDT in Chinese populations is also related to the high dietary intake due to contamination of food. When comparing the data obtained recently (1998-2002), the coastal populations such as Guangzhou (DDE + DDT 2.13 μg g-1 fat), Hong Kong (2.87 μg g-1 fat) and Dalian (2.13 μg g-1 fat) contain higher concentrations of DDTs which may reflect the dietary difference of consuming more meat and fish, than other Chinese populations (Beijing 1.96 μg g -1 fat; Shenyang 0.87 μg g-1 fat). In general, the rather low ratio of DDE/DDT (e.g., 4.07 for Guangzhou) of the Chinese milk samples reflected the more recent releases of DDT. It is recommended to impose a tighter control on the use of DDT for vector control as well as for agricultural application, conduct regular monitoring of DDT concentrations in different ecological compartments which include air, water, sediment and biota. Human milk is a preferred indicator reflecting human body loadings of POPs including DDTs, as well as the risk which may impose on our next generation. A national wide survey is needed to investigate the intake of POPs, including POP pesticides, due to dietary differences, with a strong focus on the more sensitive populations, e.g., coastal residents who consume a large amount of fish.
AB - This article attempts to review the usage of nine pesticides included in the 12 Stockholm Convention persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in China and to examine the extent of DDT contamination in human milk, focusing on the Chinese populations. By comparing all the data available concerning DDTs in human milk from 19 countries, it is revealed that the Chinese populations exhibit rather high concentrations of DDTs, due to the fact that China has been a major producer and consumer of DDTs in the past, and also uses DDT for vector control, resulting in higher background levels of DDTs in different ecological compartments. The high body loading of DDT in Chinese populations is also related to the high dietary intake due to contamination of food. When comparing the data obtained recently (1998-2002), the coastal populations such as Guangzhou (DDE + DDT 2.13 μg g-1 fat), Hong Kong (2.87 μg g-1 fat) and Dalian (2.13 μg g-1 fat) contain higher concentrations of DDTs which may reflect the dietary difference of consuming more meat and fish, than other Chinese populations (Beijing 1.96 μg g -1 fat; Shenyang 0.87 μg g-1 fat). In general, the rather low ratio of DDE/DDT (e.g., 4.07 for Guangzhou) of the Chinese milk samples reflected the more recent releases of DDT. It is recommended to impose a tighter control on the use of DDT for vector control as well as for agricultural application, conduct regular monitoring of DDT concentrations in different ecological compartments which include air, water, sediment and biota. Human milk is a preferred indicator reflecting human body loadings of POPs including DDTs, as well as the risk which may impose on our next generation. A national wide survey is needed to investigate the intake of POPs, including POP pesticides, due to dietary differences, with a strong focus on the more sensitive populations, e.g., coastal residents who consume a large amount of fish.
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.11.004
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=20844454476&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.04.028
DO - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.04.028
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 15949838
AN - SCOPUS:20844454476
SN - 0045-6535
VL - 60
SP - 740
EP - 752
JO - Chemosphere
JF - Chemosphere
IS - 6 SPEC. ISS.
ER -