Abstract
The present study work was aimed at to monitor the residue level of some selected pesticides (Dichloro diphenyl tricthloro
ethane, Dichloro diphenyl dichloro ethylene, endosulfan, aldrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, permethrin, and bifenthrin) in
milk samples collected from the cotton growing belt of the Punjab province. The residue level of these pesticides in dairy
milk samples was analyzed on High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system. About 70% of the collected
samples were found contaminated with either of the analyzed pesticides. Aldrine was detected in 35% samples with mean
concentration level of 0.68µg/ml, ranged between 0.32 µg/ml and 5.19µg/ml. However, DDT, DDE, and endosulfan
prevailed comparatively in lower percentage such as 10%, 9%, and 7%, respectively. DDT ranges between .003µg/ml and
0.40µg/ml, with mean concentration level of 0.01 µg/ml. Whereas DDE is present with mean residue level of 0.04µg/ml,
ranging from 0.15µg/ml to 1.23µg/ml. Lower level of DDT residues in milk indicates that the further application of DDT has
been ceased which is also reported by other monitory studies conducted in most of the countries. Mean concentration level of
the Endosulfan in milk was 0.13µg/ml. Among pyrethroids pesticides detected in milk samples, bifentrhin was present with
the highest mean concentration level of 1.68µg/ml followed by permethrin with mean residue level of 1.24µg/m. The mean
residue level of cypermethrin and deltamethrin was 0.23µg/ml and 0.21µg/ml respectively. The results also indicated that
23%, 21%, 18% and 7% of the milk samples were contaminated with cypermethrin, bifenthrin, permethrin and detlamethrin,
respectively.
