A mixed-methods study of pesticide exposures in Breastmilk and Community & Lactating Women’s perspectives from Haryana, India.
IR@CFTRI: CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore
View Archive Info| Field | Value | |
| Relation |
http://ir.cftri.com/14716/
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09966-x |
|
| Title |
A mixed-methods study of pesticide
exposures in Breastmilk and Community &
Lactating Women’s perspectives from
Haryana, India.
|
|
| Creator |
Rukshan, V. Mehta
Sreenivasa, M. A. Mathen, Mathew Amy Webb, Girard |
|
| Subject |
17 Toxicology
|
|
| Description |
Background: Population growth which has resulted in a need for increased crop yields to sustain food security, in
addition to the effects of climate change, have led to the widespread use of chemical pesticides. The indiscriminate
use of pesticides has in turn led to contamination of the environment, food commodities and bioaccumulation in
human tissues, particularly in agrarian regions of India including the northern state of Haryana.
Methods: We conducted a pilot screening study to investigate the presence of organochlorine, organophosphate,
and pyrethroid pesticides in breastmilk samples (n = 75) from Haryana, India. Pesticide analyses were conducted
using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for OC and OP pesticides and GC-electron capture detector
for pyrethroids. The study was complemented by a qualitative evaluation of maternal and community perceptions,
knowledge, attitudes and practices associated with pesticide use and risk of exposure (n = 30 in-depth interviews;
n = 9 focus group discussions).
Results: Analysis of breastmilk showed the presence of p,p’-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and p,p’-
dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) in 4% (range: <LOQ - 28 μg/L) and 5% (range: < LOQ – 107 μg/L) of
samples, respectively. No other pesticides were detected.
Our qualitative findings showed that community members commonly held perceptions of pesticides as medicines
and poison but acknowledged their widespread use to ensure crop yields. Given the gendered engagement in
farming in this setting, lactating women in study communities do not directly handle chemical pesticides, thus
lowering risk of inhalation and dermal exposure.
Conclusions: In our small sample, breastmilk pesticide concentrations were low and did not pose a risk to infants.
Based on the persistent nature of many organic pollutants and reported widespread use, we recommend more
comprehensive and longitudinal investigation of upstream pesticide contamination in the food supply and
exposures among mothers and children.
|
|
| Date |
2020
|
|
| Type |
Article
PeerReviewed |
|
| Format |
pdf
|
|
| Language |
en
|
|
| Identifier |
http://ir.cftri.com/14716/1/BMC%20Public%20Health%20%282020%29%20201877.pdf
Rukshan, V. Mehta and Sreenivasa, M. A. and Mathen, Mathew and Amy Webb, Girard (2020) A mixed-methods study of pesticide exposures in Breastmilk and Community & Lactating Women’s perspectives from Haryana, India. BMC Public Health, 20. p. 1877. |
|