Skip to main content
Log in

Placental transfer of pesticides in humans

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Archives of Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Transfer of organochlorine pesticides from mother to fetus has been studied in 100 women. The concentrations of organochlorine pesticides were examined in maternal blood, placenta, and umbilical cord blood of the same mother/child pair. Residue levels of dichlorodiphenyl trichloro ethane (DDT) and its metabolites, isomers of benzene hexachloride (BHC) and aldrin were detected in all the samples analyzed, indicating their transfer from mother to the fetus. A correlation was found to exist between the pesticide concentration and age, dietetic habits and area of residence of pregnant women.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anonymous (1978) Chemicals and the environment. Ambio 7:240–243.

  • Bindra OS, Kalra RL (1973) A review of work done in India on pesticide residues. In: Bindra OS, Kalra RL (eds) Progress and problems in pesticide residue analysis, p 9

  • Brown JR, Chow LY (1975) Comparative study of DDT and its derivatives in human blood samples in Norfolk country and Holland, Marsh, Ontario. Bull Environ Contra Toxicol 13: 483

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen D (1978) Guarding against cancer. Environ Protection Agency J 4: 12–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Dale WE, Miles JW, Gaines TB (1970) Quantitative method of DDT and DDT metabolites in blood serum. J Assoc Off Anal Chem 53: 1287–1292

    Google Scholar 

  • Dale WE, Copeland MF, Hayes WJ (1965) Chlorinated insecticides in the body fat of people in India. Bull World Health Org 33: 471–477

    Google Scholar 

  • Dejonckheere W, Steurbaut W, Verstracter R, Kips RH (1977) Residues of organochlorine pesticides in human fat in Belgium. Med Fac Landbouw Rigkseeniv Gen 42: 1839

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishbein L (1978) Proceeding International Symposium. Regional Commission of the European Communities, Luxemburg, pp 725–750

  • Folmer LC (1978) In vitro inhibition of rat brain ATPase, PNPPase and ATP-32Pi exchange by chlorinated diphenyl ethanes and cyclodiene insecticides. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 19: 481–488

    Google Scholar 

  • Gowdar TKS, Sethunathan N (1976) Peristence of endrin in Indian rice soils under flooded conditions. J Agricol Food Chem 24: 750

    Google Scholar 

  • Hort MM, Andson RH, Fabro S (1971) Prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation induced by DDT in rabbit. Arch Int Pharamcodyn Ther 192: 286

    Google Scholar 

  • Lakshminarayana V, Krishna Menon P (1972) Insecticide residues in blood stuffs. Annual report of the Central Plant Protection Graining Institute, Hyderabad

  • Moakes DN, Benfield CA (1965) Tissue accumulation of DDT and its metabolites in the domestic fowl. J Sci Food Agricol 16: 693

    Google Scholar 

  • Proceedings Indo-US workshop on biodegradable pesticides held at ITRC, Lucknow, India. April, 16–19, 1979

  • Saxena MC, Seth TD, Mahajan PL (1980) Organochlorine pesticides in human placenta and accompanying fluid. Int J Environ Anal Chem 7: 245–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Siddiqui MKJ, Saxena MC, Seth TD (1981) Pesticide pollution in India. I organochlorine pesticides in hen's eggs. Toxicol Lett (in press)

  • Skaftason JF, Toxell J (1979) Organochlorine compounds (DDT, hexachloro cyclo hexane, hexachloro benzene) in Icelandic animal body fat and butter fat. Local and global sources of contamination. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol 44: 156

    Google Scholar 

  • Peraino C, Fry RJM, Staffeldt E, Christopher JP (1975) Comparative enhancing effects of phenobarbital, amobarbital, diphenyl hydantoin, and dichloro diphenyl trichloro ethane on 2-acetyl amino fluorence-induced hepatic tumorogenesis in rat. Cancer Res 35: 2884–2890

    Google Scholar 

  • Vettorazzi G (1975) State of the art of the toxicological evaluation carried out by the joint FAO/WHO expert committee on pesticide residues. I organohalogenated pesticides used in public health and agriculture. Res Rev 56: 107

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Saxena, M.C., Siddiqui, M.K.J., Bhargava, A.K. et al. Placental transfer of pesticides in humans. Arch Toxicol 48, 127–134 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310482

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310482

Key words

Navigation