Pesticide residues : organochlorines

Organochlorinated pesticides, such as dichlorodiphenylethanes, hexachlorocyclohexanes, cyclodienes, hexachlorobenzene, chlordecone, and mirex, are persistent lipophilic compounds that tend to bioaccumulate in food chain. Because of their high vapor pressure, they may be transported long distances by air currents. Thus, they can contaminate foods of animal origin remote from their location of use. Food intake is a major route of exposure to general population. Dietary intake is in the nanogram per kilogram of body weight and varies by a few orders of magnitude among countries and population groups. Exposure can cause chronic health effects, in particular endocrine disruption and possibly cancer. Comprehensive monitoring in different food types is mandatory to accurately assess the risks posed by these chemicals.