Organochlorine pesticides in specimens from women undergoing spontaneous abortion, premature of full-term delivery.
Organochlorine insecticides (BHC, aldrin, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT) were measured in the blood, placenta and fetus of women experiencing spontaneous abortions, preterm labor or full-term labor using an electron-capture gas chromatographic method. The following trend was found for insecticide concentrations in each of the specimens tested: spontaneous abortions greater than preterm greater than full-term. One conclusion of this work is that the organochlorine insecticides act as antagonists to pregnancy. A plausible explanation for the facilitory role of organochlorine insecticides in the initiation of preterm labor/abortion is hypothesized.
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy
D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007306:Insecticides; D010573:Pesticide Residues