title: Dialkyl phosphates in amniotic fluid as a biomarker of fetal exposure to organophosphates in Crete, Greece; association with fetal growth.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate fetal exposure to organophosphate pesticides (OPs) by measuring their non-specific dialkyl-phosphate metabolites (DAPs) in amniotic fluid (AF), and to examine the potential association between prenatal exposure and fetal growth. AF samples were collected from 415 women during the second gestational trimester. The determined OPs metabolites were DMP, DMTP, DEP, DETP, and DEDTP. DAPs were extracted by liquid-solid extraction, derivatized and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. 97.8% of AF samples were positive for at least one DAP. DAPs levels did not differ between urban and rural areas. Macrosomic neonates have significantly higher sum levels of DMPs (p=0.043), which exerted a linear positive association with birth-weight centile (b=4.43, p=0.016). Conclusively, as DAPs are detectable in AF they may be used as a potential biomarker of fetal exposure to OPs. Sum levels of DMPs appear to be associated with birth weight independently of other covariates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koutroulakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Laboratory of Toxicology Science and Research, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Electronic address: stavros.sifakis@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sifakis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology Science and Research, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Tzatzarakis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology Science and Research, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Alegakis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology Science and Research, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Theodoropoulou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology Science and Research, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kavvalakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kappou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology Science and Research, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tsatsakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D010575:Pesticides; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010755:Organophosphates; D010575:Pesticides
keywords: Amniotic fluid; Birth weight; Dialkyl phosphates; Fetal exposure; Fetal growth; Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; Organophosphate pesticides; Pregnancy