title: Persistent organochlorine compounds in fetal and maternal tissues: evaluation of their potential influence on several indicators of fetal growth and health.
abstract: Some organochlorine compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), have a tendency to bioaccumulate in humans and predators at the top of the food chain. We have recently confirmed the transplacental transfer of these compounds and the present study has been designed on the same material with the aim of investigating their potential health effects on newborns from 70 pregnant women, resident in a Northern Italy industrial town. Organochlorine compounds [namely, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene (p,p'-DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and PCBs] have been analyzed both in cord and maternal serum, placenta, and maternal subcutaneous adipose tissue by GC-MSD. p,p'-DDT levels in the adipose tissue resulted significantly (p<0.05) related to birth length. Mothers of neonates born by preterm programmed caesarean delivery showed significantly (p<0.005 for both) higher serum p,p'-DDE serum concentrations and p,p'-DDT levels in the adipose tissue, as compared to mothers delivering at term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Applied Medicine, Section of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy. bergonzi@med.unibs.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergonzi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Palma
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Specchia
authors.forename: Mariadaniela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dinolfo
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tomasi
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frusca
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Apostoli
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D003632:Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane / Q000378:metabolism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000378:metabolism*; D007558:Italy; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D003632:Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane