title: Urinary organophosphate metabolite levels in Palestinian pregnant women: results of the Middle East Regional Cooperation Project.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to measure urinary organophosphate (OP) metabolites in Palestinian pregnant women, and to compare levels with those in pregnant women in Jerusalem and women from the general population in Israel. We measured six dialkyl phosphates in urine samples collected from 148 pregnant women from the West Bank area. Median total dimethyl phosphate (DM(total)) levels were significantly lower in Palestinian women compared to Jerusalem pregnant women and women in Israel (p = 0.041). In Palestinian women reporting that their place of residence was near an agricultural field, DM(total) levels were significantly higher (p = 0.037). Lower urinary excretion of dimethyl phosphate pesticide metabolites in Palestinian women compared to Israeli women may result from lower consumption of fruits and vegetables in the Palestinian population. Our findings highlight differences in OP pesticide exposure in populations with close geographical proximity but with differences in culture, diet, lifestyle, and regulatory oversight of pesticides.
authors.affiliation: a Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute , Al-Quds University , Jerusalem , Palestine.
authors.forename: Ziad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abdeen
authors.affiliation: b Public Health Services , Ministry of Health , Jerusalem , Israel.
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.affiliation: a Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute , Al-Quds University , Jerusalem , Palestine.
authors.forename: Kifaya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Azmi
authors.affiliation: a Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute , Al-Quds University , Jerusalem , Palestine.
authors.forename: Rania
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abu Seir
authors.affiliation: a Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute , Al-Quds University , Jerusalem , Palestine.
authors.forename: Hazem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Agha
authors.affiliation: c The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Public Health , Jerusalem , Israel.
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ein-Mor
authors.affiliation: d Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine , Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Göen
authors.affiliation: c The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Public Health , Jerusalem , Israel.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: c The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Public Health , Jerusalem , Israel.
authors.forename: Elihu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.affiliation: c The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Public Health , Jerusalem , Israel.
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calderon-Margalit
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018912:Arabs; D004032:Diet; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008877:Middle East; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000652:urine*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010755:Organophosphates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010575:Pesticides; C007477:dimethyl phosphate
keywords: biomonitoring; exposure; maternal; organophosphates; pesticides; pregnant