Maternal and cord blood levels of organochlorine pesticides: association with preterm labor.
OBJECTIVE
Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been reported to cause adverse reproductive outcomes. Hence, the present study was conducted to estimate and compare the levels of OCPs in maternal and cord blood of preterm labor and full term labor cases as well as assess their role in preterm delivery.


METHODS
23 cases each of preterm labor and full term labor were included in the study. Maternal and cord blood OCP levels were determined by using a GC-MS equipped with an electron capture detector.


RESULTS
Maternal and cord blood levels of alpha-HCH, beta-HCH, gamma-HCH, total-HCH, p,p'DDE and p,p'DDT were found higher in preterm labor than full term labor cases. However, a statistically significant relation was observed between preterm birth and beta-HCH levels only.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher blood levels of beta-HCH may be associated with risk of preterm labor.
Pathak
Rahul
R
Department of Biochemistry, Environmental Biochemistry and Immunology Laboratory, University College of Medical Sciences & GTB Hospital, University of Delhi, Dilshad Garden, Delhi, India.
Ahmed
Rafat S
RS
Tripathi
A K
AK
Guleria
Kiran
K
Sharma
C S
CS
Makhijani
S D
SD
Banerjee
B D
BD
D003634:DDT / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; C040534:alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D003634:DDT; C023888:beta-hexachlorocyclohexane