Concentrations of Organochlorine Pesticides in Milk of Nicaraguan Mothers

Breast-milk samples from 101 mothers from the basin of Rio Atoya, Nicaragua, were collected on two occasions within the first trimester of lactation. Milk samples were analyzed for 13 organochlorine pesticides: (1) p,p'-dichlorophenyldichloroethylene; (2) p,p'-dichlorophenyltrichloroethane; (3) p,p'-dichlorophenyldichlorodiene; (4) α-hexachlorocyclohexane; (5) β-hexachlorocyclohexane; (6) γ-hexachlorocyclohexane; (7) δ-hexachlorocyclohexane; (8) toxaphene; (9) dieldrin; (10) endrin; (11) aldrin; (12) heptachlor; and (13) heptachlor-epoxide. Organochlorines of the dichlorodiphenylethane class (i.e., p,p'-dichlorodiphenylethane and p,p'-dichlorodiphenylethane) were found in all samples and at the highest mean concentrations observed in the study. Chemicals in the hexachlorocyclohexane family (i.e., α- and δ-hexachlorocyclohexane) were not found at all (0%), and the other hexachlorocyclohexane compounds (i.e., β > γ) were found in less than 6% of the samples. Twenty percent or less of the sample contained chlorinated cyclodienes (i.e., dieldrin > endrin > heptachlor-epoxide > heptachlor). No measurable concentrations of α-hexachlorocyclohexane, aldrin, p,p'-dichlorophenyldichlorodiene, and toxaphene were found in the breast milk samples. Analysis of variance demonstrated that only the concentration of p,p'-dichlorophenyldichloroethylene p,p'-dichlorophenyltrichloroethane, and endrin were affected significantly by maternal age. Overall, with the exception of p,p'-chlorophenyldichloroethylene, and p,p'-dichlorophenyltrichloroethane, the mean concentrations of the analyzed pesticides were low. Total p,p'-dichlorophenyltrichloroethane concentrations that exceeded the allowed daily intake set by the World Health Organisation were found in 5.9% of the samples.     

Effects of insecticides on the metal-activated hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate by bluegill liver mitochondria

Investigations were made on the effects of the pesticides aldrin, 1 carbofuran, chlordane, DDE, Dasanit^®, diazinon, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, Kepone^®, lindane, malathion, methoxychlor, parathion, Thimet^®, Sevin^®, and toxaphene on the metal-ion-activated hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus Raf.) liver mitochondria. Chlordane, dieldrin, heptachlor, Kepone, lindane, methoxychlor, and toxaphene decreased the activities of Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ATPases. Aldrin decreased Zn²⁺ ATPase but did not alter Cd²⁺ ATPase. The effects of endrin, diazinon, malathion, carbaryl, Thimet, Dasanit, and carbofuran on Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ATPases were not investigated. DDE, dieldrin, lindane, parathion, and Thimet increased Mn²⁺ ATPase activity, whereas aldrin, heptachlor, and Kepone reduced Mn²⁺ ATPase activity. Dieldrin, lindane, toxaphene, diazinon, and parathion increased, whereas aldrin, endrin, heptachlor, Kepone, carbofuran, and Sevin decreased Mg²⁺ ATPase activity. DDE, toxaphene, diazinon, malathion, and parathion increased, but chlordane and endrin reduced Ca²⁺ ATPase activity.     

Perinatal metabolism of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene in Nicaraguan mothers.

Umbilical cord and venous blood samples were collected at the time of delivery from 52 mothers living in urban and rural areas of the Atoya River basin, Nicaragua. In a subsample of 24 mothers that delivered by Cesarean section, abdominal adipose tissue samples were also collected, as was breast milk later in lactation. Cord and venous blood sera were analyzed for 13 organochlorine pesticides: 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (pp'-DDT); 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (pp'-DDE); pp'-dichlorophenyldichlorodiene (pp'-DDD); alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH); beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH); gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH); delta-hexachlorocyclohexane (delta-HCH); toxaphene; dieldrin; endrin; aldrin; heptachlor; and heptachlor epoxide. In venous blood only pp'-DDE (100% of samples), pp'-DDT (1.92%), dieldrin (15.38%), heptachlor (15.38%), gamma-HCH (7.69%), beta-HCH (11.53%), and delta-HCH (1.92%) were found, whereas in cord blood only pp'-DDE (100%), pp'-DDT (3.84%), dieldrin (19.23%), and heptachlor (9.16%), were found. The persistent DDT metabolite pp'-DDE, present in all samples of blood serum, adipose tissue, and breast milk, was studied in relation to maternal characteristics such as body mass index (BMI), age, lactation experience, and fetal pesticide acquisition. Mean venous (7.12 microg/g) and cord (6.39 microg/g) pp'-DDE concentrations were not significantly different but were significantly correlated. pp'-DDE in maternal adipose tissue was positively correlated with pp'-DDE in cord blood (P=0.0001) and breast milk (P<0.0001) and marginally correlated with changes in BMI (r=-0.03088; P=0.06). There was a higher proportion of samples (58%) with a greater concentration of DDE in venous than in cord blood. Although DDE accumulation may be less during fetal development than during breast feeding, exposure during embryogenesis may be more important than during the postnatal period.     

Organochlorine Insecticide Residues are Found in Surface, Irrigated Water Samples from Several Districts in Bangladesh

The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence and distribution of organochlorines such as aldrin, dieldrin, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), endrin, lindane and heptachlor insecticide residues in irrigated surface water samples collected from 22 districts in Bangladesh. The concentrations of the pesticides were determined using gas chromatography mass spectrophotometry. Water samples from five locations (Feni, Nawabganj, Putia, Burichang and Chatak) were contaminated with DDT; the highest DDT concentration detected was 8.29 μg/L, and its metabolite, DDE, was detected at 4.06 μg/L. Water samples from four other locations (Natore, Sikderpara, Chatak and Rajoir) were contaminated with heptachlor residues, and the highest level detected was 5.24 μg/L, which is the above the maximum contaminant level recommended by the World Health Organisation. A water sample collected from Chatak, Sunamganj, was contaminated with both DDT and heptachlor pesticide residues. None of the water samples were contaminated with aldrin, DDD, dieldrin, endrin or lindane. It is concluded that continuous, long-term monitoring and essential steps to limit the use of the pesticides in Bangladesh are needed.     

Residue pattern and dietary intake of persistent organochlorine compounds in foodstuffs from Vietnam

Concentrations of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), DDT compounds (DDTs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide were determined in foodstuffs collected from different locations in Vietnam. Elevated levels of PCBs, DDTs, HCHs, and aldrin and dieldrin were found in animal fat, butter, meat, and seafood. Caviar and butter samples imported from the Soviet Union contained considerably higher amounts of PCBs, HCHs and DDTs. The average daily intake of some organochlorines by Vietnamese people were higher than those observed in most of the developed nations. The dietary intake of DDTs was the highest among various chemicals studied. Interestingly, the daily dietary intake of PCBs was comparable to those in developed countries. Fish, shellfish, prawn, and crab were the primary route of DDTs to humans, whereas cereals and vegetables were the predominant sources of PCBs and HCHs.     

Influence of different organochlorine pesticides on the development of the sea urchin embryo

The action of the pesticides aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, as well as DDT and methoxychlor, on the development of fertilized sea urchin eggs was investigated. Whereas dieldrin did not affect development, endrin demonstrated slight effects while aldrin led to greatly abnormal embryos. Heptachlor proved to be more toxic than aldrin and led to abnormal development and lysis of the embryos. DDT also affected development but less than aldrin. Methoxychlor demonstrated toxic effects similar to those observed with heptachlor. Independent of these morphological observations, data on the incorporation of [³H]thymidine in early developmental stages were obtained. Unlike all other compounds methoxychlor significantly inhibited deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis. In contrast to the effects produced here, methoxychlor is much less toxic to mammals than DDT. The meaning of these results for practical purposes is discussed.     

Current status and regulatory aspects of pesticides considered to be persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Taiwan

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are capable of persisting in the environment, transporting between phase media and accumulating to high levels, implying that they could pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. Consequently, most OCPs are designated as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and even as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The objective of this paper was to review the current status of pesticide POPs in Taiwan, including aldrin, chlordane, chlordecone, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, α/β-hexachlorocyclohexanes, lindane, mirex, pentachloro-benzene, and toxaphene. The information about their environmental properties, banned use, carcinogenic toxicity and environmental levels, can be connected with the regulatory infrastructure, which has been established by the joint-venture of the central competent authorities (i.e., Environmental Protection Administration, Department of Health, Council of Agriculture, and Council of Labor Affairs). The significant progress to be reported is that the residual levels of these pesticide-POPs, ranging from trace amounts to a few ppb, have declined notably in recent years.     

Organochlorine pesticides in seafood products from southern China and health risk assessment

Seafood consumption is an important route of human exposure to organic contaminants. Residual levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), including DDTs, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), heptachlor, aldrin, alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan, dieldrin, endrin, endrin aldehyde, endrin ketone, methoxychlor, endosulfan sulfate, and heptachlor epoxide, were determined in a wide variety of seafood products collected from 11 coastal cities in southern China in June and October 2005. The results indicated that OCPs were predominated by DDTs and HCHs. The concentrations of other OCP components generally were low and were detectable in a small number of seafood samples only, probably reflective of the generally low levels of these OCPs in the study region and low bioaccumulation potentials in the species under investigation. Risk assessment against various standards clearly showed that seafood products were highly contaminated by DDTs and may pose health threat to local residents and the consumers all over the world. Furthermore, other OCP components, such as dieldrin and heptachlor, also impose lifetime cancer risk, especially to residents of coastal regions who often consume more seafood than those living inland. Therefore, continual monitoring of OCPs in various environment compartments, including biota and abiota, urgently is needed to mitigate effectively the impact of OCPs, particularly DDTs, on human health and the ecological environment.     

The decline of mink in Georgia,North Carolina,and South Carolina: The role of contaminants

Since the 1960s, mink (Mustela vison) populations in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina have declined, especially in the coastal plain. A prior study suggested that the decline may stem from environmental contaminants. Based on water quality data from each state, we identified 17 substances potentially related to the decline: aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, DDD, DDE, DDT, PCBs, chlordane, alpha-BHC, toxaphene, dibenzofuran, copper, chromium, cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury. Mink livers were analyzed for PCB and organochlorine pesticides, and kidneys and femurs were analyzed for metals. Reference sample concentrations from piedmont, mountain, and foothill locations were compared to state coastal plain totals and counties. PCBs for Georgia, dieldrin for South Carolina, and endrin and aldrin for North Carolina were significantly higher than the piedmont reference group. Liver PCB concentrations were higher than those known to cause mink reproductive dysfunction. Mercury concentrations were significantly higher in coastal plain mink from all three states and were in the range of those known to cause impacts to reproduction, growth, and behavior to wild mink. It is unknown what concentrations of cyclodienes cause reduced reproduction or other physiological effects in mink, but the levels reported here probably indicate background concentrations that do not contribute to the decline.     

Endocrine disrupting chemicals in Hungarian canned foods

The aim of this study was to clarify the worldwide residual levels of organochloride compounds, such as BHC and DDT, which were reportedly concentrated in animal tissues by biological food chains. As a part of the investigation of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), we had a chance to measure the level of these compounds in Hungarian canned foods. Seven kinds of canned foods were purchased at a market in Budapest, Hungary, and the concentrations of eighteen organochloride compounds (α-BHC; β-BHC; γ-BHC; δ-BHC; p,p'-DDT; p,p'-DDE; p,p'-DDD; o,p'-DDT; heptachlor; heptachlor-epoxide; aldrin; dieldrin; endrin; oxychlordane; trans-chlordane; cischlordane; trans-nonachlor; and cis-nonachlor) were measured. Other than DDT and its metabolites, none of the EDCs were detected (levels <0.4 ppb). DDT and its metabolites, however, were detected in fish, meat and chicken liver pate. One of the DDT metabolites was detected quite frequently: p,p'-DDE was detected at a level of 1.8 ppb in fish soup concentrate, 2.3 ppb in Hungarian luncheon meat, 0.5 ppb in special luncheon meat, and 0.6 ppb in chicken liver pate. Of eighteen organochloride compounds examined, only DDT and its metabolites were detected in fish, animal meat, and animal liver. It is suggested that the DDT contamination in fish and meat is worldwide even after the ban of its use.     

Most unwanted.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can travel thousands of miles, accumulate in the food chain, and persist in the environment, taking as long as centuries to degrade. POPs are known to play a role in birth defects, cancer, immune system dysfunction, and reproductive problems in wildlife. While the effects of POPs on human health are unclear, many researchers believe that long-term exposure contributes to increasing rates of birth defects, fertility problems, greater susceptibility to disease, diminished intelligence, and certain cancers. Twelve POPs have been identified by the United Nations Environment Programme as requiring urgent regulatory attention. They include the pesticides aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, and toxaphene. Of the remaining three POPs, polychlorinated biphenyls are industrial products (used in electrical transformers), and dioxins and furans are unintentional by-products of industrial processes.     

Mortality of workers employed at organochlorine pesticide manufacturing plants--an update.

A previous mortality study among four organochlorine pesticide manufacturers was updated through 1987. The organochlorine pesticides included chlordane; heptachlor and endrin; aldrin, dieldrin and endrin; and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. The mortality for all causes and all malignant neoplasms at each of the plants was lower than expected. There was a statistically significant increase in liver and biliary tract cancer among workers at plant 3 (5 observed, standardized mortality ratio 393, 95% confidence interval 1.27-9.20). These results are somewhat consistent with experimental animal findings showing benign and malignant tumors of the liver after exposure to aldrin and dieldrin. However, the deaths were due to a mixture of intra- and extra-hepatic tumors, and the dose-response analysis was limited because of the small number of deaths and lack of exposure data. Additional study of this group should include continued follow-up of the total cohort and a case-referent analysis of the deaths from liver and biliary tract cancer.     

Pesticide Residues and Heavy Metals in Lake Victoria Nile Perch, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lates niloticus</Emphasis>, Belly Flap Oil

Oil was extracted from the belly flaps of varied sizes of Nile perch caught from Lake Victoria (Uganda). The oil was analyzed for pesticide residues and heavy metals. Total residual concentration of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, endosulfan, hexachlorocyclohexane, hexachlorobenzene, heptachlor, chlordane, endrin, aldrin and chlorofenvinphos increased significantly (p < 0.05) with fish size. Mercury and lead were detected in most samples while arsenic and cadmium were below detection limits. Nile perch may, therefore, accumulate significant amount of chemical contaminants. Levels of contaminants in Nile perch oil were, in general, within limits considered acceptable by the stringent German Food Law for human consumption.     

GC-MS Determination of Targeted Pesticides in Environmental Samples from the Kafue Flats of Zambia

Results of a GC-MS analysis for targeted pesticides i.e. dieldrin, endosulfan, pp-DDT, endrin, HCB, heptachlor, mirex and aldrin in the Kafue Flats of Zambia are presented. Analysis was done in soils, sediments, water and vegetation samples from the Lochinvar and Blue Lagoon National Parks along the Kafue River. A validated analytical method that was used gave recoveries in a spiked soil sample ranging between 60 % and 100 % with limits of detection (LODs) ranging from 0.94 to 8.0 ng/g. The targeted pesticides were not detected in all the samples i.e. were below LODs. Screening using the Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification System (AMDIS) simplified the analysis due to its power of deconvolution and identification of analytes of interest.     

Organochlorine pesticides in freshwater fish from the Zagreb area

The aim of this study was to determine the level of organochlorine pesticides in freshwater fish from the Zagreb area, Croatia. The study included 215 freshwater fish samples from three sites: the Sava River, Lake Jarun, and five fishponds from the Zagreb surroundings. Organochlorine pesticides DDT and derivates, HCH, HCB, lindane, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor with epoxide, and methoxychlor were determined using the GC-ECD method. The determined amounts of organochlorine pesticides were within allowed concentration limits in all analysed fish samples. Median values ranged from below the detection limit of 0.01 microg kg(-1) for dieldrin and metoxychlor to 2.00 microg kg(-1) for DDT in the Cyprinidae fish family from the Sava River, Zagreb sampling site (group 1).This study has confirmed pesticide persistence in the overall ecosystem in our country despite the ban of some thirty years ago, like in many other parts of the world.     

Multiple Residue Extraction for Organochlorine Pesticides in Medicinal Plants

A rapid, multiresidue, multimatrix analytical method for the determination of aldrin, endrin, dieldrin and hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (α-, β-, γ- and δ-HCH) residues in medicinal plants has been developed. Samples were extracted by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) followed by gas chromatographic-electron-capture detection (GC-⁶³Ni-ECD). The validation of the proposed approach was carried out by comparison with the European Pharmacopoeia reference extraction method obtaining similar or even better efficiencies by the proposed approach.     

Levels of exposure to organochlorine pesticides in open-air dump dwellers

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the degree of internal exposure to organochlorine pesticides (persistent organic pollutants, POP) among inhabitants of an open-air dump. METHODS: This was an observational study with simultaneous measurement and control, in which the criterion for subjects was that they dwelled in an area contaminated by POP and the effect of such contamination was the concentration of such substances into the blood. The study population consisted of 238 people living on an open-air dump in Pil es, in the municipality of Cubat?o, SP, Brazil, and the control population was formed by 258 people, also resident in that municipality, in the Cota 200 district. The following pesticides were analysed: hexachlorobenzene (HCB), p-p'DDT, p-p'DDE, p-p'DDD, o-p'DDT, a HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane); b HCH; g HCH; aldrin; dieldrin; endrin; heptachlor; heptachlor-epoxy and mirex. RESULTS: The average blood level of HCB in Pil es was 4.66 g/l, which was 155 times higher than the average for Cota 200 (0.03 g/l). In Pil es the average blood concentration of total DDT was 3.71 g/l, which was twice the level found in Cota 200 (1.85 g/l). Total HCH presented blood concentrations that were six times greater in Pil es (0.84 g/l versus 0.13 g/l). CONCLUSIONS: A positive association was shown between dwelling in Pil es and the presence of POP in the blood, with much higher risks than in localities without the presence of these contaminants.     

Tigris-Euphrates Delta: A major source of pesticides to the Shatt al-Arab river (Iraq)

Organochlorine pesticides were determined in the Tigris-Euphrates-Shatt al-Arab Delta by high resolution gas chromatography. Mean concentrations of pesticides in the dissolved form were (in ng/L) 98p,p'-DDE; 8o,p'-ODD; 28p,p'-DDD; 16p,p'-DDT; 30 aldrin; 66 dieldrin; 57cis-chlordane; 15trans-chlordane and 10 heptachior. Particulatep,p'-DDE;p,p'-DDT; endrin;cis-chlordane and heptachior mean concentrations at this location were 76, 67, 154, 11, and 68 (g/kg, dry weight, respectively. Partitioning of dissolved pesticides was evident along the Shatt al-Arab River, which was reflected by significantly higher levels of particulate species down river. Residues ofp,p'-DDE;p,p'-DDD;p,p'-DDT; endrin and dieldrin were confirmed in sediments from this river (mean concentrations were 19, 4, 3, 7, and 14 g/kg, dry weight, respectively); however, DDD was confined to the anoxic sub-surface layers only. Absorbing pesticides from both water and suspended particulate matter, Shatt al-Arab mussels had mean residue concentrations as follows (g/kg, wet weight) 43p,p'-DDD; 12o,p'-DDD; 15p,p'-DUT; 166 endrin; 26 aldrin; 24 dieldrin; 6cis-chlordane and 5 trans-chlordane. The Euphrates River was the major source of pesticides in the dissolved form, while the Tigris River contributed pesticides mainly in the particulate form to the Shatt al-Arab River. The sediment of this river was the largest reservoir of organochlorine pesticides, where more than 80% of the studied contaminants reside.     

Organochlorine pesticide contaminations in human milk samples from women living in Amman,Jordan

Concentrations of 15 organochlorine pesticides were determined by capillary gas chromatography in 59 human milk samples collected from the general population during 1989/1990 in the Jordanian capital of Amman. In addition to hexachlorbenzene (HCB), three groups of organochlorine compounds namely, DDT and its metabolites, hexachlorcyclohexane (HCH-isomers) and the cyclopentadiene group (aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, and heptachlor epoxide) were analyzed.The results show that almost all samples contained HCB, -HCH, p,p-DDE and p,p-DDT, whereas p,p-DDD, heptachlor, -HCH, -HCH and o,pDDT were found in 42, 40, 33, 22 and 20 analyzed samples, respectively. The concentration of HCB, -HCH, p,p-DDE, p,p-DDT and heptachlor expressed on a milk-fat basis (median in mg/kg milk fat): 0.29, 0.4, 2.04, and 0.7 respectively.For the comparative purposes and in order to try to find the possible sources of mother-milk contaminations, different types of locally produced and imported cow milk samples were also analyzed for the same organochlorine compounds. Almost all types of tested milk were contaminated with p,p-DDE.     

Dieldrin, aldrin, endrin, isodrin, endosulfan 1 and 2 on fish in the Gulf of Gdańsk]

The residues of dieldrin, aldrin, endrin, isodrin, endosulfan 1 and 2 has been determined in a several species of fish caught in the Gulf of Gdańsk in 1992. The method of measurement was capillary gas chromatograph and low resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/LRMS) after a nondestructive extraction and clean-up step with a further fractionation of the extract on Florisil column. Apart from dieldrin no other cyclodiene pesticides studied were found in fishes in detectable amounts, and for dieldrin concentrations ranged from 0.84 to 6.6 ng/g wet weight.