GLYPHOSATE AND PENDIMETHALIN IN BREAST MILK SAMPLES FROM EGYPTIAN RURAL AREAS: A PILOT STUDY FOR INFANTS RISK ASSESSMENT

Thirty-one samples of breast milk were collected from some rural mothers and conducted for herbicides; glyphosate and pendimethalin analysis followed by their impact on infants. Three rural locations; Shobrakhite, Abo Homos and Abo El-Matamir in El-Behira governorate were selected for the study as well as an urban location in Alexandria as a reference. Glyphosate and pendimethalin exhibited ranges of concentrations; 3.25-27.91; below detection limit-8.91; below detection limit-10.11 ?g/ml and 1.44-21.62; 2.51-15.94; 1.88-24.02 ?g/ml for Shobrakhite, Abo Homos and Abo El-Matamir locations, respectively. High vegetables and cereal consumption by mothers showed higher herbicide-contaminated milk (r=0.273* and 0.24*) than others. On the other hand, herbicides were negatively associated with young and house wife individuals (r=-0.272* and -0.330*). Tolerable daily intakes for infants were addressed for rank of low, moderate and high exposure. Infants of Abo El-Matamir location exhibited the greatest value for pendimethalin, but group of Shobrakhite location exhibited the greatest value for glyphosate. The present findings indicate that, signs alarms of adverse health effects of herbicides may be imposed on these infants and their families.