title: Organochlorine pesticides in placentas from Southern Spain and some related factors.
abstract: During pregnancy, lipophilic xenobiotics stored in maternal adipose tissue can be mobilized and enter her blood circulation and reach the placenta. This study measured residues of oestrogen-mimicking organochlorine pesticides (OCs) in 150 placenta samples from women in Southern Spain. OCs were extracted from placenta by solid-liquid technique and purified by preparative liquid chromatography. Gas chromatography/electron-capture detection and mass spectrometry were used to identify and quantify p,p'-DDT and congeners/metabolites, endosulphan and congeners/metabolites, lindane, aldrin/dieldrin/endrin, hexachlorobenzene, methoxychlor and mirex. A mean of eight pesticides per placenta were detected (range, 3-15 pesticides). Endosulphan-ether, endosulphan-diol, endosulphan-I, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT and lindane were detected in >or=50% of samples; p,p'-DDE was the most frequent (96.03%), followed by endosulphan-diol (76.86%) and lindane (74.17%). Presence of more pesticides was significantly associated with lower birth weight. Mean concentration of p,p'-DDE was 2.37+/-2.80 ng/g of placenta or 76.62+/-104.85 ng/g of lipid. Higher maternal body mass index was significantly associated with higher endosulphan concentrations in placenta, and greater maternal weight gain was significantly associated with higher p,p'-DDE concentrations. Prenatal exposure to OC xenoestrogens may be a causative factor in adverse reproductive health trends, and further studies are required to identify and describe pathways of this exposure to enhance preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Investigations, San Cecilio University Hospital of Granada, 18071-Granadaa, Spain.
authors.forename: M-J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lopez-Espinosa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Granada
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carreno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvatierra
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olea-Serrano
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004967:Estrogens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010575:Pesticides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides