Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
(ISSN: 2659 – 0743)
Volume 7, No. 1, 2025
Pages 251-263
DOI: 10.36108/jvbs/5202.70.0162
Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Bovine Milk and the Human Health Risk in Punjab, India
Abdulrahman Mohammed*1,2, Rabinder Singh Aulakh2and Jasbir Singh Bedi2.
1Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Maiduguri, Borno Nigeria.
2Centre for One Health, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana 141004, Punjab, India.
ABSTRACT
Status of pesticide residues in bovine milk in Punjab, India, was determined; and human health risks resulting from consumption of contaminated milk were assessed. Two hundred and two samples (202) collected from four districts of Punjab were analyzed by gas chromatography. The pesticide residues detected in 10.9% of the samples included parathion, malathion, quinalfos, profenofos, ethion, p,p’ DDD – a synthetic organochlorine insecticide and a metabolite of the pesticide DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), p,p’ DDE (4,4’-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene), lindane, cypermethrin, cyhalothrin and permethrin, with p,p’ DDE contributing 21% of total pesticide load. Two samples contained profenofos levels above Maximum residue limit (MRL), while p,p’ DDD, p,p’ DDE and lindane levels were above MRL in one sample each. Hazard Index for all pesticides were far below 1 for both the lower-bound (LB) and upper bound (UB) scenarios. The cancer risk from consumption of milk contaminated with lindane or p,p DDD or p,p DDE for both adults and children at both LB and UB scenarios were also found to be within the safe limits.
Keywords: Pesticide residues, Bovine milk, Human health risk, Maximum residue limit, DDD