Organochlorine Pesticide Levels in Maternal Adipose Tissue, Maternal Blood Serum, Umbilical Blood Serum, and Milk from Inhabitants of Veracruz, Mexico

Organochlorine pesticides, due to their persistence, accumulate in food chains and cause elevated contamination in human beings. These residues bioconcentrate in lipid-rich tissues according to the equilibrium pattern of internal transport and lipid tissue content. The analyses of maternal adipose tissue, maternal blood serum, umbilical blood serum, colostrum, and mature milk indicate circulation of these compounds through all compartments of the maternal body, including their crossover of the placental barrier. The greatest residue levels found correspond to DDTs, with highest levels determined in colostrum (5.71 mg/kg of DDT total), followed by adipose tissue with 5.66 mg/kg and in mature milk with 4.70 mg/kg. Among DDTs, pp'DDE is the most predominant compound. The paired analyses of organochlorine pesticide residue levels between mother blood serum and umbilical blood serum demonstrate significant correlation and their transfer from mother to fetus through the placenta. The paired analyses of adipose tissue and colostrum and mature milk contamination levels indicate a high degree of coherence, principally of DDT, in the body and lactation as a decontamination means. Received: 6 May 2000/Accepted: 12 September 2000