Dietary exposure to HCH and DDT congeners and their associated cancer risk based on Pakistani food consumption

Abstract

Dietary exposure to organochlorine pesticides such as hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) congeners was assessed using diet study approach, and for this purpose, different food items were collected in August 2014. The levels of ∑(HCHs + DDTs) in different food groups were ranged from 2.57 to 206 ng g⁻¹, ww, with contamination order of fish > poultry > milk > vegetables > cereals > flour > fruits. In the present study, the ratios of β-HCH/∑HCH (0.19–0.40) were < 0.5, where the ratios of (DDE + DDD)/∑DDT (0.48–6.70 with mean value of 0.61) were > 0.5 demonstrated the recent and past inputs of HCH and DDT, respectively. The major contributing groups (6.3–70.3%) to total dietary intake of HCHs and DDTs were animal origin (fish, poultry, and milk), while the less contributing food groups (2–4.5%) were vegetarian origin (vegetables, cereals, flour, and fruits). Cancer risk was estimated for HCHs and DDTs ingested via local foodstuffs. On the basis of both average and high end (95th percentile) exposure levels, the HRs for HCHs and DDTs were found greater than one (safety limit), indicating a potential cancer risk for Pakistani people from life-time consumption of contaminated food items selected in this study. The congener-specific cancer risk was found in order of α-HCH > β-HCH > ∑DDT > γ-HCH > p,p'-DDE > p,p'-DDT.

Graphical abstract

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