Determination of Organochlorine Residues in Maternal and Cord Blood Plasma

Organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues determined in seventy-seven maternal and forty-eight cord blood plasma samples showed mean levels of total p,p'-DDT in maternal (pregnant), maternal (non-pregnant) and cord blood plasma to be 14.9, 6.8 and 7.6 mg/kg fat respectively. Mean levels of total HCH for the three sets of samples were 5.1, 2.4 and 1.5mg/kg fat respectively while those for HCB were 0.6, 0.4 and 0.4 mg/kg fat respectively. The level of OCPs in the cord blood plasma reflects the degree of transplacental transfer of these contaminants from the mother to the developing foetus. The high levels of contaminants in the blood plasma of pregnant women could be attributable to more intensive use of aerosol insecticides during pregnancy.