Abstract
Organochlorine pesticides accumulate in lipid rich compartments of organisms. During pregnancy, the compounds pass through the placental barrier appear in cord blood. The aim of this study was to monitor the levels of organochlorine pesticides in 70 umbilical cord blood samples taken during deliveries in Veracruz in 2009. For organochlorine pesticides, only the presence β-HCH (4%, 3.9 μg/L median concentration on wet weight), pp′DDE (100%, 0.7 μg/L) and pp′DDT (4%, 1.4 μg/L) were detected. The total pool of samples divided according to sex of new born babies, showed no statistical differences among median concentrations. The number of deliveries considered as a determinant contamination factor affirmed there were no statistical differences among median concentrations; however pp′DDE levels increased from the one to two childbirth groups. Age of pregnant women as a discriminate factor manifests in a significant increase in contamination levels among first, second and third tertile. In general, umbilical cord blood samples in Veracruz contained organochlorine pesticides, especially pp′DDE, confirming the presence of these compounds in the environment and their transfer from the mother to the developing fetus.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alegria H, Wong F, Jantunen LM, Bidleman TF, Salvador-Figueroa M, Gold-Bouchot G, Ceja-Moreno V, Waliszewski SM, Infanzón R (2008) Organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in air of southern México (2002–2004). Atmospheric Environ 42(38):8810–8818
Hamel A, Mergler D, Takser L, Simoneau L, Lafond J (2003) Effects of low concentrations of organochlorine compounds in women on calcium transfer in human placental syncytiotrophoblast. Toxicol Sci 76:182–189
Longnecker MP, Klebanoff MA, Gladen BC, Berendes HW (1999) Serial levels of serum organochlorines during pregnancy and postpartum. Arch Environ Health 54(2):110–114
Martínez-Valenzuela C, Gómez-Arroyo S, Villalobos-Pietrini R, Waliszewski S, Calderón-Segura ME, Félix-Gastélum R, Álvarez-Torres A (2009) Genotoxic biomonitoring of agricultural workers exposed to pesticides in the north of Sinaloa State, Mexico. Environ Inter 35:1155–1159
Ortega García JA, Carrizo Gallardo D, Ferris Tortajada J, García MMP, Grimalt JO (2006) Meconium and neurotoxicants: searching for prenatal exposure timing. Arch Dis Child 91:642–646
Pathak R, Suke SG, Ahmed RS, Tripathi AK, Guleria K, Sharma CS, Makhijani SD, Mishra M, Banerjee BD (2008) Endosulfan and other organochlorine pesticide residues in maternal and cord blood in north Indian population. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 81:216–219
Torres-Sánchez L, Rothenberg SJ, Schnaas L, Cebrián ME, Osorio E, Hernández MC, García-Hernández RM, del Rio-Garcia C, Wolff MS, López-Carrillo L (2007) In utero p, p′-DDE exposure and infant neurodevelopment: a perinatal cohort in Mexico. Environ Health Perspect 115(3):435–439
Waliszewski SM, Szymczynski GA (1991) Persistent organochlorine pesticides in blood serum and whole blood. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 46:803–809
Waliszewski SM, Aguirre AA, Infanzón RM, Siliceo J (2000) Partitioning coefficients of organochlorine pesticides between mother blood serum and umbilical blood serum. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 65:293–299
Waliszewski SM, Carvajal O, Infanzón RM, Trujillo P, Hart MM (2004a) Copartition ratios of persistent organochlorine pesticides between human adipose tissue and blood serum lipids. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 73:732–739
Waliszewski SM, Carvajal O, Infanzón RM, Gomez-Arroyo S, Villalobos-Pietrini R, Trujillo P, Maxwell Hart M (2004b) Organochlorine pesticide levels in blood serum samples taken at autopsy from auto accident victims in Veracruz, Mexico. Arch Environ Health 59(9):441–448
Waliszewski SM, Gómez-Arroyo S, Carvajal O, Villalobos-Pietrini R, Infanzón RM (2004c) Uso del ácido sulfúrico en las determinaciones de plaguicidas organoclorados. Rev Int Contam Ambient 20(4):185–192
Waliszewski SM, Bermúdez MT, Infanzón RM, Silva CS, Carvajal O, Trujillo P, Gómez-Arroyo S, Villalobos-Pietrini R, Saldaña VA, Melo G, Esquivel S, Castro F, Ocampo H, Torres J, Hayward-Jones PM (2005a) Persistent organochlorine pesticide levels in breast adipose tissue in women with malignant and benign breast tumors. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 75(4):752–759
Waliszewski SM, Infanzón RM, Gomez-Arroyo S, Villalobos-Pietrini R, Carvajal O, Trujillo P, Hayward-Jones PM (2005b) Persistent organochlorine pesticides levels in blood serum lipids in women bearing babies with undescended testis. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 75(5):952–959
Wong F, Alegria H, Jantunen LM, Bidleman TF, Salvador-Figueroa M, Gold-Bouchot G, Ceja-Moreno V, Waliszewski SM, Infanzón R (2008) Organochlorine pesticides in soil and air of southern Mexico: chemical profiles and potential for soil emissions. Atmospheric Environ 42(37):7737–7745
Acknowledgments
The authors express their appreciation to Dana Erickson and Winston Smith of the Peace Corps México for their help in editing this article and we thank Laboratory of Environmental Engineering from Institute of Enginery, University of Veracruz for analytical support in total lipid determinations.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Herrero-Mercado, M., Waliszewski, S.M., Caba, M. et al. Organochlorine Pesticide Levels in Umbilical Cord Blood of Newborn in Veracruz, Mexico. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 85, 367–371 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-010-0108-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-010-0108-8