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Milk is the source of casein protein, vitamins, calcium and phosphorus and plays vital role in
strengthening the human body tissues. Now a days most food items are contaminated by different
synthetic chemicals including milk. DDT (Dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane) and HCH
(Hexachlorohexane) come under the organochlorine insecticides group and indiscriminately used in
agriculture and in control of mosquitoes in different health programmes in India. These insecticides
are lipophilic and got accumulated in fatty tissues of organisms and environment. This investigation
was undertaken to evaluate the levels of DDT metabolites and HCH isomers in packaged milk
samples collected from Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. Total 27 milk samples of different brands viz
Paras, Amul Gold, Ananda, Dairy Best and Mother Dairy were collected and analysed using Gas
Chromatographic Mass Spectrometry. The HCH was not detected in Ananda, Dairy best and Mother
Dairy whereas DDT and its metabolites were found in all the brands. The concentration of HCH
isomers and DDT metabolites were recorded under the standard limits of WHO (World Health
Organization).
Keyword: DDT, HCH, lipophilic, insecticides, WHO