Biomarkers of maternal and fetal exposure to organochlorine pesticides measured in pregnant Hispanic women from Brownsville, Texas

Authors

Ken Sexton
Jennifer J Salinas
Thomas J McDonald
Rose M Z Gowen
Rebecca P Miller
Joseph B McCormick
Susan P Fisher-Hoch

Publication Date

1-11-2013

Journal

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Abstract

Biomarkers of organochlorine pesticides were measured in both venous and umbilical cord blood from 35 pregnant Hispanic women living in Brownsville, Texas, USA. Gas chromatography with an electron capture detector was used to analyze specimens for 30 individual pesticides or their metabolites. Results indicate that blood concentrations were relatively low for most individual compounds, but that high-end (upper 10th percentile) values for total DDT were comparatively high. Although health effects associated with measured blood concentrations are uncertain, there is concern that fetal exposure to low levels of these OC compounds, either individually or in combination, might contribute to subsequent health problems, including neurodevelopmental effects, cancer, endocrine disruption, obesity and diabetes.

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Biomarkers, Chromatography, Gas, Environmental Exposure, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollutants, Female, Fetal Blood, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated, Maternal Exposure, Pesticides, Pregnancy, Texas, Young Adult