Levels of organochlorine pesticides in blood serum and umbilical blood serum of mothers living in Veracruz, Mexico

Organochlorine pesticides, such as DDT and lindane, up to now have had significance in tropical and subtropical countries. Their residues cross the placental barrier exposing the fetus body. Sixty-five paired samples of mother blood serum and umbilical blood serum were analyzed to quantify the organochlorine pesticide residue levels. The organochlorine pesticides HCB, alpha-, beta-, gamma-HCH, pp' DDT, op' DDT, pp' DDE and pp' DDD were detected. In all samples pp' DDE is predominate and HCB reveals ubiquity at a minor level. The beta-HCH was detected at a low level, compared to those determined in other countries. The statistical evaluation indicates differences among mean concentrations of major persistent pesticides in mother blood serum and umbilical blood serum and existence of linear correlation among the pesticide levels determined in both types of samples.