Persistent chlorinated pesticides and intra-uterine foetal growth retardation: a possible association.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between DDT (dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane) and HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane) exposure and intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR, <10th percentile of birth weight for gestational age).


METHODS
We detected p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE and alpha-HCH, beta-HCH, gamma-HCH, delta-HCH in maternal blood, placenta and cord blood, collected at parturition, from mothers with IUGR babies ( n=30) and from those with babies of normal weight ( n=24), using gas-liquid chromatography equipped with electron capture detector ((63)Ni). The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for these pesticides in mothers and infants were determined by multiple logistic regression.


RESULTS
There were statistically significant associations ( P<0.05) between maternal blood levels of alpha-HCH (OR=1.22; 95% CI: 1.02-1.46), gamma-HCH (OR=1.38; 95%CI: 1.05-1.80), delta-HCH (OR=1.61; 95% CI: 1.01-2.54), total HCH (OR=1.07; 95% CI: 1.01-1.13) and p,p'-DDE (OR=1.21; 95%CI:1.03-1.42) and IUGR after adjustment for potential confounders. Also, significant association (P<0.05) between cord blood levels of gamma-HCH (OR=1.14; 95% CI: 1.00-1.31), delta-HCH (OR=1.31; 95% CI: 1.00-1.75), total HCH (OR=1.07; 95% CI: 1.00-1.14) and IUGR were found after adjustment for potential confounders. A significant negative correlation between body weight of newborn babies and p,p'-DDE in maternal blood (r= -0.25; P<0.05) and delta-HCH and p,p'-DDE in the cord blood (r= -0.27 and -0.26; P<0.05) was noticed after gestational age had been accounted for.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure of pregnant women to organochlorine pesticides may increase the risk of IUGR, which is a contributing factor for infant mortality in India.
Siddiqui
M K J
MK
Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Post Box No. 80, M.G. Marg, Lucknow 226 001, India. mkjs@rediffmail.com
Srivastava
S
S
Srivastava
S P
SP
Mehrotra
P K
PK
Mathur
N
N
Tandon
I
I
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D003634:DDT / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors
D007306:Insecticides; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D003634:DDT