Maternal and umbilical cord blood serum concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and investigation of possible effects on newborn

Abstract

Studies have shown the negative effects of organochlorine pesticide (OCP) exposure on humans, but few studies focus on the transmission of OCPs to the foetus during pregnancy and the effects of prenatal exposure on the newborn. In this study, maternal and cord blood samples were collected at deliveries and the prenatal exposures of OCPs were investigated. OCPs, analysed in the samples, were hexachlorobenzene (HCB), p,p’dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p’DDE), o,p′dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (o,p’DDT) and p,p′dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p′DDT). A statistically significant difference of OCPs concentration between the cord and maternal blood was not observed (respectively; p = 0.372; 0.441; 0.379; 0.611). In other words, it was found that OCPs in mothers were transferred to the newborns through cord blood. Besides, the effects of OCPs exposure on newborns were investigated and the method of delivery was marginally associated with o,p’-DDT concentration. Maternal OCPs residue levels measured in this study were positively correlated with concentrations measured in the umbilical cord blood suggesting that these OCPs were transferred to the foetus.