Increasing serum levels of non-DDT-derivative organochlorine pesticides in the younger population of the Canary Islands (Spain)

Organochlorine pesticides are a lipophilic class of chemicals that persist in the environment and tend to accumulate in human tissues for years. They came into widespread use in the late 1940s. Because of their capacity to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in food chains and their toxic effects, most of them were banned in industrialized countries, among them Spain, in the late 1970s and 1980s. In 1998 organochlorine pesticides were determined in a representative sample of a Spanish population (around 690 serum samples from people 6 to 75years old from the Canary Islands). Serum levels of lindane aldrin, dieldrin and endrin, were determined. Our results showed that a high percentage of samples presented detectable levels of some of the organochlorines measured, endrin being the most frequently detected (72%) and at highest concentration (mean 136.7ng/g fat). Mean concentrations of the main cyclodiene evaluated, dieldrin, was lower to those found in other Western populations. However, serum levels of lindane were higher than those described in North European populations. Influence of geographical and sociodemographic factors was evaluated. Urban populations showed the highest levels of dieldrin, while non-urban population showed the highest serum values of lindane, aldrin and endrin. Unexpectedly, serum values of lindane, aldrin and dieldrin were higher in younger than in older people. Subjects under 18years showed almost twice as high serum levels of lindane, aldrin and dieldrin than subjects of 65-75years. These results may well suggest that people living in the Canary Islands have been and are currently exposed to non-DDT-organochlorine pesticides. The type and source of exposure could vary between islands and type of habitat. Contaminated food and/or the environment could be related with this situation.     

Organochlorine levels in maternal and umbilical cord blood plasma in Arctic Canada

A baseline for exposure to organochlorine and metal contaminants has been established for mothers and newborns in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut areas of Arctic Canada. Maternal and umbilical cord blood plasma organochlorine levels are described for Inuit, Dene, Métis, Caucasian and Other non-Aboriginal participants. Overall, 523 women volunteered to participate by giving their written informed consent between May 1994 and June 1999, resulting in the collection of 386 maternal blood samples, 407 cord blood samples and 351 maternal/cord pairs. Nearly half of all the participants regularly smoked cigarettes, including 77% of the Inuit participants. Maternal and cord results are presented for PCBs (as Aroclor 1260 and 14 congeners) and organochlorine pesticides, including p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), cis and trans nonachlor, heptachlor epoxide, oxychlordane, mirex, dieldrin and toxaphene. Maternal PCB levels (as Aroclor 1260) averaged 4.42 (+/-9.03) microg/l in Inuit, which was 3.3 times higher than those found in Dene/Métis, and 3.4 times higher than levels in Caucasians. Mean DDE levels were 2.8 times higher in the Other non-Aboriginal group (Chinese, Filipino, East Indian and multiple ethnicity) than in the Inuit group, at 3.99 microg/l and 1.42 microg/l, respectively. Cord blood PCB levels (as Aroclor 1260) averaged 1.16 (+/-2.42) microg/l for Inuit participants, which was 3.3-4 fold higher than the other ethnic groups. PCBs, p,p'-DDE and hexachlorobenzene were detected in all maternal samples, and p,p'-DDE was detected in all cord samples. Regression coefficients for maternal/cord pairs are presented for selected organochlorines. Other results from this study, including maternal and cord metals data, will be presented elsewhere.     

Organochlorine pesticides in ambient air in Durban, South Africa

Despite the existence of numerous sources and continuing use, information regarding emissions and airborne concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in Africa is extremely limited. This paper presents results of a monitoring program conducted in Durban, South Africa that was designed to characterize levels, trends and possible sources of pesticides in both industrial and residential areas. Three monitoring sites were established, two in an industrialized area in the southern part of the city, and the third in a northern residential area. Particulate and vapor samples were sampled over the 2004-5 period and analyzed by GC/MS to estimate long-term levels of a wide range of pesticides. Based on a year of sampling, the sites had comparable levels of many pesticides with exceptions of alpha-chlordane and lindane. Levels of p,p'-DDT (42+/-27 pg m(-3)) and its derivatives were relatively high and showed an unusual mixture with high levels of p,p'-DDD (12+/-11 pg m(-3)). Other pesticides detected and quantified included aldrin, chlordanes, hexachlorobenzene and dieldrin. Potential source areas, identified using concentration patterns, local and regional gradients, compositional information and trajectory analyses, suggest that chlordane and lindane arise from both local sources as well as regional/global sources; DDT from regional sources elsewhere in South Africa, Africa and India; and most of the other long-lived pesticides detected, including gamma-nonachlor, hexachlorobenzene and toxaphene, from global sources. This monitoring results, which represent the most detailed study to date of pesticides in air in Africa, serve several purposes, including documenting the presence and use of long-banned pesticides like aldrin, aiding the understanding of the fate of persistent compounds, identifying pollutants that may contribute to health problems, and informing decision-making aimed at reducing exposures and risks.     

Trace elements, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in New Zealand common dolphins (Delphinus sp.)

Trace elements, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine (OC) pesticide levels were determined in tissues collected from stranded and bycaught common dolphins (Delphinus sp.) from New Zealand waters between 1999 and 2005. The concentrations of mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), arsenic (As) and silver (Ag) were determined in blubber, liver and kidney tissue. PCBs (45 congeners) and a range of OC pesticides including dieldrin, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites DDE and DDD were determined in blubber samples. Cr and Ni were not detected in any of the samples and concentrations of Co, Sn and Pb were generally low. Concentrations of Hg ranged from 0.17 to 110 mg/kg wet weight. Organochlorine pesticides dieldrin, HCB, o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE were present at the highest concentrations. Sum DDT concentrations in the blubber ranged from 17 to 337 and 654 to 4430 microg/kg wet weight in females and males, respectively. Similarly, Sigma45CB concentrations ranged from 49 to 386 and 268 to 1634 microg/kg wet weight in females and males, respectively. The mean transmission of SigmaDDTs and ICES7CBs between a genetically determined mother-offspring pair was calculated at 46% and 42%, respectively. Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides determined in the present study are within similar range to those reported for Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhyncus hectori) from inshore New Zealand waters.     

Residues of organochlorine pesticides in fruits, vegetables and tubers from Nigerian markets.

Residue levels of organochlorine pesticides have been determined in raw fruits, vegetables and tubers from markets in Nigeria. In the fruits, total HCH, aldrin and total DDT were detected in 77, 38 and 30% of all samples, respectively. In the vegetables, total HCH, HCB, total DDT and aldrin were detected from 95, 53, 50 and 30%, respectively, of all samples. Aldrin + dieldrin, total HCH, and total DDT were detected from 98, 79 and 49%, respectively, of all tuber samples. Other pesticides were below their detection limits. The average levels were generally low and none were above the FAOs maximum residue limits.     

Fish intake and serum levels of organochlorines among Japanese women

This study evaluates background serum levels of selected organochlorine compounds among Japanese women of reproductive age and investigates whether lifestyle factors, especially dietary factors, may be associated with these levels. A cross-sectional study was performed on 80 Japanese women, aged 26-43 years, who complained of infertility and were confirmed not to have endometriosis. The serum levels of total toxic equivalency (TEQ), 18 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs)/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), 4 coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (cPCBs), 36 ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 13 chlorinated pesticides or their metabolites were measured and data were collected on the women's age, residence, occupation, body mass index (BMI), smoking and alcohol habit and 6 dietary intakes (fish, meats, rice, vegetables, fruits and dairy products). The serum median level of total TEQ was 25.1 pg TEQ/g lipid, that of PCDDs/PCDFs/cPCBs was 11.5 pmol/g lipid, that of PCBs was 0.46 nmol/g lipid, and that of total pesticides was 1.32 nmol/g lipid. The serum levels of total TEQ, PCDDs/PCDFs/cPCBs, PCBs and pesticides were positively associated with age (P for trend=0.003, 0.01, 0.005 and 0.01, respectively) and frequent fish consumption (P for trend=0.002, 0.003, 0.0003 and 0.006, respectively). Other lifestyle factors were not associated with serum organochlorine levels. The present study suggests that Japanese women who consume fish frequently in their reproductive period tend to accumulate organochlorines in their bodies.     

Chlorobenzenes, chlorinated pesticides, coplanar chlorobiphenyls and other organochlorine compounds in Greenland biota

This paper summarises the levels and composition of chlorobenzenes, chlorinated pesticides, coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the chlorinated compounds octachlorostyrene (OCS), hexachlorocyclobutadiene (HCBD) and pentachloro-anisole (PCA) in biota from the terrestrial, freshwater and marine environment of Greenland. The data were obtained during the second phase of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP). Of the chlorobenzenes, hexachlorobenzene was the main constituent detected in almost all samples. The chlorobenzenes accumulate in the marine food web in a similar manner to the better-studied persistent organic pollutants, with maximum concentrations in beluga, minke whale and narwhal. However, concentrations in ringed seals and kittiwakes were lower than in marine fish, contradicting biomagnification. Of the organochlorine pesticides, the drin pesticides (aldrin, endrin, dieldrin) and heptachlor had increasing concentrations along the food chain, whilst biomagnification was less pronounced for endosulfan, methoxychlor and mirex. Endosulfan and methoxychlor are pesticides still in use and considered less persistent than other organochlorine pesticides. Their occurrence in Arctic biota is of particular concern, also given the high acute toxicity of endosulfan to fish. Chlorobenzene and pesticide concentrations tended to be lower in the Greenland samples than in the same animals from the Canadian Arctic, whilst their concentrations were similar to samples from Svalbard and Iceland. However, temporal trends might overlap the geographical differences. Coplanar chlorobiphenyls (CBs) were found in all samples analysed, with the maximum concentrations found in marine mammals such as beluga and narwhal. Biota from the terrestrial environment appeared to be less contaminated. The main contributor on a TEQ basis was CB126. OCS, HCBD and PCA were detected in biota from Greenland, although at very low concentrations. OCS seems to have the widest occurrence and the highest potential for biomagnification of the three compounds analysed.     

Organochlorine and mercury residues in the harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus)

Samples of blubber, liver, kidney and brain, obtained from 10 male, 6 female neonatal, and 4 lactating female harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus), were analysed for DDT, dieldrin, PCB, and total mercury. Methyl mercury levels in blood were also determined. Biocide deposition was not significantly different in female and male ten day old pups. There were no significant differences in biocide levels in the liver of the 14/+ day old males, but in blubber there were significant differences in dieldrin and DDT.There was no clear relationship between biocide levels in the 6–18 year old lactating adults and their pups. Younger adult seals (6 and 7 years) were found to have higher levels of PCB and ΣDDT levels in their blubber than did older females (10 and 18 years). Wide intraspecific variation was noted in organochlorine and mercury residue levels. Pups taken in 1973 were found to have lower organochlorine residues than pups taken in the same area in 1971.Preliminary investigation indicates that detectable amounts of organochlorine and mercury residues are capable of crossing the placenta in the harp seal.     

Composition, distribution, and potential toxicity of organochlorine mixtures in bed sediments of streams

Mixtures of organochlorine compounds have the potential for additive or interactive toxicity to organisms exposed in the stream. This study uses a variety of methods to identify mixtures and a modified concentration-addition approach to estimate their potential toxicity at 845 stream sites across the United States sampled between 1992 and 2001 for organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in bed sediment. Principal-component (PC) analysis identified five PCs that account for 77% of the total variance in 14 organochlorine compounds in the original dataset. The five PCs represent: (1) chlordane-related compounds and dieldrin; (2) p,p′-DDT and its degradates; (3) o,p′-DDT and its degradates; (4) the pesticide degradates oxychlordane and heptachlor epoxide; and (5) PCBs. The PC analysis grouped compounds that have similar chemical structure (such as parent compound and degradate), common origin (in the same technical pesticide mixture), and(or) similar relation of concentrations to land use. For example, the highest concentrations of chlordane compounds and dieldrin occurred at urban sites, reflecting past use of parent pesticides for termite control. Two approaches to characterizing mixtures—PC-based mixtures and unique mixtures—were applied to all 299 samples with a detection of two or more organochlorine compounds. PC-based mixtures are defined by the presence (in the sample) of one or more compounds associated with that PC. Unique mixtures are defined as a specific combination of two or more compounds detected in a sample, regardless of how many other compounds were also detected in that sample. The simplest PC-based mixtures (containing compounds from 1 or 2 PCs) commonly occurred in a variety of land use settings. Complex mixtures (containing compounds from 3 or more PCs) were most common in samples from urban and mixed/urban sites, especially in the Northeast, reflecting high concentrations of multiple chlordane, dieldrin, DDT-related compounds, and(or) PCBs. The most commonly occurring unique mixture (p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD) occurred in both simple and complex PC-based mixtures, and at both urban and agricultural sites. Mean Probable Effect Concentration Quotients (PEC-Q) values, which estimate the potential toxicity of organochlorine contaminant mixtures, were highest for complex mixtures. Mean PEC-Q values were highest for urban sites in the Northeast, followed by mixed/urban sites in the Northeast and agricultural sites in cotton growing areas. These results demonstrate that the PEC-Q approach can be used in combination with PC-based and unique mixture analyses to relate potential aquatic toxicity of contaminant mixtures to mixture complexity, land use, and other surrogates for contaminant sources.     

Disruptive effects of persistent organohalogen contaminants on thyroid function in white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Svalbard

We analysed levels of 56 organohalogen contaminants (OHCs) including brominated flame retardants, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides in the blubber of white (beluga) whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Svalbard, Norway (N = 12; 6 adults [5 males and 1 female] and 6 subadults [4 males and 2 females]) collected in 1996-2001. We also measured circulating levels of thyroid hormones (THs) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the whales. The results confirm that OHC levels in these white whales are among the highest levels recorded in wildlife from Svalbard, and at the high end of the range when compared to white whales from the North American Arctic. A projection to latent structure (PLS) model (subadults and adult males grouped together) revealed that known or suspected thyroid disruptive contaminants (polybrominated diphenylether [PBDE]-28, -47, -99, -100, and -154, hexachlorobenzene [HCB], and PCB-105) were negatively correlated with circulating levels of total thyroxin (TT4), free T4 (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3). Most of these negative relationships were also confirmed using partial correlations controlling for length (and thus age) of the whales. The positive correlations of TT4, FT4 and FT3 with hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), chlorinated bornanes CHB-40 and CHB-62 revealed by the PLS model were not confirmed by partial correlations. TH levels in the present study appeared to be somewhat lower than levels measured in beluga whales from the Canadian Arctic. However, we were not able to determine if this was caused by different levels of OHCs, or differences in biological factors (e.g. age, sex, moulting status, and season) and analytical methods between the studies. Although the sample sizes were low and statistical models cannot depict the biological cause-effect relationships, this study suggests negative influences of specific OHCs, particularly PBDEs, on thyroid hormone levels in white whales. The impact this might have on individual and population health is unknown.     

Distribution of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in umbilical cord and maternal serum

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides, such as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE) are compounds widespread in the environment, highly lipophilic, and accumulate in biological systems. The newborn are exposed to these organochlorine compounds across the placenta and through breastfeeding. This study reports the levels of selected PCB congeners, p,p'-DDE and HCB in maternal blood and cord blood samples collected at delivery between November and December 1999 from 44 women living in the urban area of Antwerp, Belgium. Results show that all newborns contained detectable levels of PCBs, p,p'-DDE and HCB. The median concentration of PCBs was 450 pg/ml and ranged between 120 and 1580 pg/ml, while the median concentrations of HCB and p,p'-DDE were 70 and 490 pg/ml, respectively. Concentrations of PCBs and p,p'-DDE in cord blood (ng/ml) were positively associated with concentrations in maternal blood (ng/ml) (coefficients=0.74 and 0.92, P<0.05). We conclude that all investigated organochlorine compounds have an efficient transplacental transfer.     

Inadvertent exposure to organochlorine pesticides DDT and derivatives in people from the Canary Islands (Spain)

In 1998, one of the largest determinations of organochlorine pesticides in a representative sample of a Spanish population (682 serum samples from the Canary Islands) was made in the context of the "Canary Islands Nutrition Survey" (ENCA). In the Canary Islands, extensive farming areas have been developed in these last decades, with greenhouses dedicated to intensive cultivation using DDT in huge amounts. In Spain, similarly to other European countries, DDT was banned in the late 1970s. The pesticide residues in human serum are indicative of past and present exposure to them. Our objective is to point out the differences of pesticide contamination between islands; and together with this, if a connection could be established with gender, age, or habitat of subjects. Concentration of selected persistent organochlorine pollutants (p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, and o,p'-DDD) was measured with gas chromatography-electron capture detector. Almost all of the samples (99.3%) presented detectable levels of some DDT-derivatives, being p,p'-DDE the most frequently detected organochlorine. The median concentration of total DDT body burden, expressed in ng/g fat, present in the Canary Islands (370 ng/g fat) was similar to that found in other European countries, although it was noteworthy that a fourth of the population showed a total DDT body burden higher than 715 ng/g. Interestingly, statistical significant differences were found in serum levels of organochlorine pesticides between islands, being these levels higher in people from Tenerife and Gran Canaria (415 and 612 ng/g fat, respectively), the islands that present both highest population and highest surface devoted to intensive agriculture. As expected, serum levels of both total DDT body burden and p,p'-DDE increased with age. Statistically significant differences were also found in relation to gender, women showing higher levels of these organochlorine pesticides than men. One of the most relevant findings of this work is the presence of a very high DDT/DDE ratio in people from the Canary Islands, thus indicating a chronic exposure to DDT that persists nowadays. DDT and its derivatives are considered as xenoestrogens, and they have been linked to breast cancer. Having into account that the Canary Islands present high incidence and mortality for breast cancer, our results point to the possibility that these environmental contaminants may be playing a determining role that must be investigated in detail. The high levels of DDT and its derivatives in serum from people living in this Archipelago should be considered a matter of public health concern.     

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in European roe deer Capreolus capreolus resident in a protected area in Northern Italy

In 2001, samples of liver (n = 38) and perirenal fat (n = 25) (only in males) were taken from European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) populating a hilly, wooded protected area in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. Samples were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocycloexane alpha-, beta- and gamma-isomers (alpha-, beta- and gamma-HCH), alpha-endosulfan, aldrin, dieldrin and endrin, and the seven PCB 'indicator' congeners IUPAC Nos. 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180, in order to investigate the current state of contamination of the area and to assess the possible toxicological risks for the monitored species. p,p'-DDE was detected in 95% of the liver and perirenal fat samples (n = 63), at concentrations ranging from < dl to 629.3 ng/g lipid weight, which were much higher than those found for HCB and gamma-HCH. The concentrations of the other measured organochlorine pesticides and metabolites were below the detection limit in all the samples. PCBs were found in 97% of the liver and perirenal fat samples, at total levels ranging between < dl to 414.5 ng/g lipid weight. The hepta- and hexa-chlorinated congeners 180, 153 and 138 were predominant and comprised more than 70% of the total seven PCBs in both the liver and perirenal fat samples. In the male roe deer, significantly higher concentrations of HCB, p,p'-DDE and PCBs were found in the liver than in the perirenal fat (P < 0.001). Hepatic levels of p,p'-DDE and PCBs were significantly higher in males than in females (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). No significant differences in organochlorine concentrations were observed between juvenile and adult males in either tissue sample (P > 0.05). Females were not statistically tested because they were all adults. The levels of organochlorine contaminants were well below those associated with adverse reproductive effects and lethality in mammals.     

Vitellogenin in tilapia male fishes exposed to organochlorine pesticides in Ouémé River in Republic of Benin

In many African countries, the economy largely depends on agriculture. Pesticides are therefore likely to represent an important source of xenoestrogens in contaminated rivers and lagoons. The largely uncontrolled use of diverse pesticides led us to hypothesize that these agents, and particularly organochlorine compounds, may pose a serious problem in the Republic of Benin. To verify our hypothesis, tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) from five sites in the southern part of the main Ouémé River were analyzed. Ouémé River drains the southern region of the country. Vitellogenin (Vtg) was used as an indicator of contaminated sites. This approach has its limitations, because there are a wide variety of man-made chemicals present in the aquatic environment likely to induce Vtg in male fish. Therefore, in this study this approach allows us to define potential contaminated target sites. In order to determine whether the presence of Vtg could be attributable to pesticides, organochlorine pesticides in the flesh of tilapia were also analyzed. Significant amounts of Vtg in fish from contaminated sites were detected, and were correlated with organochlorine pesticide levels in tissue. These results indicate that organochlorine pesticides are present in the Ouémé River and that these compounds can act as endocrine modulators in this ecosystem. Eating fish from contaminated rivers, such as the Ouémé River, may contribute to the accumulation of high concentrations of these pesticides in the body, leading to exposure to their negative effects.     

Exposure of mother-child and postpartum woman-infant pairs to DDT and its metabolites in Tianjin, China

1,1,1-trichloro-2,2'-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) exhibits its long persistence in the environment, unusual bioaccumulation, effects on wildlife, and the possibility of long-term adverse effects on human health, especially reproductive toxicity. Despite the prohibition of most persistent organochlorine pesticides in China, the presence of organochlorine residue, including DDT, has been widely indicated in environmental substance. However, scarce information is available about accumulative levels of DDT in human tissues in China. To evaluate levels of DDT and its potential effects on women and children's health in a Chinese pesticide-exposed area, we recruited 50 pairs of mother-child and 50 postpartum women, and determined the levels of total DDT and its four main metabolites (p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDT) in venous blood, breast milk and umbilical blood cord by gas chromatography. Accordingly, data on reproductive outcomes of mothers and postpartum women and healthy status of children and infants were gathered through a questionnaire and medical examinations. Furthermore, we also assayed the DDT levels of some environmental samples (soil, food, milk, et al.). The levels of DDT in children's blood were higher than that in the women's. As compared to breast milk, the umbilical blood cord and the ventral fat individually demonstrated a significantly lower and higher level of DDT in the postpartum women. DDT was lower in milk and crucian carp than in the soil near the chemical plant. p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE were the main metabolites of DDT. Our findings suggested the cumulative effect of DDT in human body in Tianjin, China.     

Circumpolar maternal blood contaminant survey, 1994-1997 organochlorine compounds

During the past 20 years a number of studies have found neurological and immunological effects in the developing fetus and infants exposed to background or only slightly elevated levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). To address concerns arising from possible increased human exposure in the Arctic and possible effects of POPs, all circumpolar countries agreed in 1994 to monitoring of specific human tissues for contaminants in the Arctic under the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP). Mothers in eight circumpolar countries contributed blood samples that were analysed at a single laboratory for 14 PCB congeners (IUPAC No. 28, 52, 99, 105, 118, 128, 138, 153, 156, 170, 180, 183, 187) and 13 organochlorine pesticides (aldrin, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH), dichlordiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT), diphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), dieldrin, heptachlorepoxide, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), mirex, and the chlordane derivatives alpha-chlordane, gamma-chlordane, cis-nonachlor, oxychlordane and trans-nonachlor). Inuit mothers from Greenland and Canada have significantly higher levels of oxychlordane, transnonachlor and mirex than mothers from Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Russia. Inuit mothers from Greenland also have significantly higher levels of these contaminants than Inuit mothers from Canada and Alaska. These differences among Inuit groups may represent regional dietary preferences or different contaminant deposition patterns across the Arctic. Levels of PCBs are also elevated among some arctic populations due to their consumption of marine mammals and are in the range where subtle effects on learning and the immune system have been reported. The Russian mothers who consume mainly food imported from southern Russia have elevated levels of DDT, DDE, beta-HCH and a higher proportion of lower chlorinated PCB congeners. This study has allowed an assessment of the variation of contaminants such as PCBs and various organochlorine pesticides (DDT, chlordane, etc.) in human populations around the circumpolar north.     

Pesticide exposure of two age groups of women and its relationship with their diet

The widespread presence of organochlorine (OC) pesticides in human samples may be explained by the environmental exposure of the population. Foods are considered a constant source of exposure, despite compliance with maximum permitted residue levels. This study aimed to examine the relationship between nutritional habits of women in Southeast Spain and their serum concentrations of OCs. A semi-quantitative questionnaire was used to estimate the frequency of consumption of foods by two age groups of women, pre-menopausal (Pre-M) and post-menopausal (Post-M), and their serum pesticide levels were measured by gas chromatography (GC) with electron capture detector and confirmed by GC and mass spectrometry. The Pre-M group showed significantly higher serum concentrations of all OCs studied with the exception of DDE. The groups significantly differed in consumption of all food groups with the exception of fruit. In the Pre-M group, the mean serum p,p-DDT concentration was significantly associated with milk/yoghurt (p<0.045) and red meat (p<0.023), serum o,p-DDT with red meat (p<0.049), serum aldrin with eggs (p<0.038) and poultry (p<0.024), and serum DDE with eggs (p<0.025). In the Post-M group, serum lindane was associated with fresh and cured cheese (p<0.001), red meat (p<0.001) and white and oily fish (p<0.001), and both serum DDE and dieldrin were associated with fresh cheese, cured cheese, red meat, and white and oily fish (p<0.001). These results confirm foods as a source of human exposure to persistent organic molecules. Consideration should be given to the reduction of permitted residue levels to minimize this threat to human and animal health.     

住院2型糖尿病患者甲状腺功能临床分析

目的了解住院2型糖尿病（2-DM）患者甲状腺功能状态。方法检测247例住院的2-DM患者游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸（FT3）、游离甲状腺素（FT4）、促甲状腺素（TSH）、血糖、糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）、胆固醇、三酰甘油并进行相关分析。结果247例2-DM患者中甲状腺功能正常210例（A组）占85．1％（210／247）,37例甲状腺功能异常占14．9％（37／247）中：亚临床甲减27例（B组）占10．9%（27／247）;亚临床甲亢10例（C组）占4．1％（10／247）。甲状腺功能异常发生率女性高于男性（P〈0．05）。3组间年龄、病程、HbA1c、餐后2h血糖、三酰甘油比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;空腹血糖：A组高于C组（P〈0．05）,B组与A、C组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;胆固醇：B组高于C组（P〈0．05）,A组与B、C组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论住院2-DM患者的甲状腺功能异常发生率较高,以亚临床甲减为主,且女性居多。     

Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) egg yolk concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and lipid increase during the last stage of embryonic development

Data are scarce describing the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides in sea turtle eggs. The purpose of this study was to establish appropriate sample collection methodology to monitor these contaminants in sea turtle eggs. Contaminant concentrations were measured in yolk samples from eggs that failed to hatch from three loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nests collected in southern Florida to determine if concentrations change through embryonic development. One to three egg yolk samples per nest were analyzed from early, middle, and late developmental stages (n=22 eggs total). PCB and pesticide concentrations were determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Geometric mean concentrations of summation operatorPCBs (52 congeners), summation operatorDDTs, summation operatorchlordanes, and dieldrin in all eggs were 65.0 (range=7.11 to 3930 ng/g lipid), 67.1 (range=7.88 to 1340 ng/g lipid), 37.0 (range=4.04 to 685 ng/g lipid), and 11.1 ng/g lipid (range=1.69 to 44.0 ng/g lipid), respectively. Early and middle developmental stage samples had similar concentrations of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides on a wet-mass basis (ng/g tissue extracted), but the concentrations doubled by the late stage. This increase is most likely attributable to the 50% increase in lipid content observed in the late-stage yolk. These findings indicate that an early-stage sample cannot be directly compared to a late-stage sample, especially from different nests. These preliminary findings also allowed us to calculate the minimum number of eggs per nest required for analysis to obtain an acceptable mean concentration per nest. More research is required to investigate geographical trends of contaminant concentrations and potential health effects (i.e., abnormalities) caused by these contaminants on sea turtle development.     

Monitoring of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides in the water of the Reconquista River (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

The Reconquista river is a typical example of the adverse impact of human activity on a watercourse. Approximately 10% of the population of the country is settled on its basin and it receives wastewater discharges from residences and industries. This paper describes the results of the first systematic data for measurement of pesticides in surface water of the river, based on a monthly monitoring program over two-year span. The analyses were performed, in three sampling stations (S1, S2 and S3), along 46 km of its course, following the AOAC methods. Screening included the following pesticides: (a) Organochlorines: alpha, beta and gamma HCH; heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide; aldrin; endrin; dieldrin; op' and pp' DDT; op' and pp' DDE; alpha and gamma chlordane and endosulphan II; (b) Organophosphates: ethyl and methyl parathion; chlorpyrifos and fenitrothion. From the 60 samples analyzed, 35% contained organochlorine pesticides in a concentration higher than the detection limit. Organophosphates were found in no case. Throughout the studied period, DDT and its metabolite DDE were only found in S1 and gamma chlordane in S3; heptachlor was present in 50% of the samples of S2 and in 35% of S3, while HCH isomers were detected in 38% of S2 and 45% of S3 samples. Neither temporal nor spatial trends were found. There was not a relationship between the time of samplings and the fumigation season for farming purposes. At all locations, pesticides levels were found to be between 40 and 400 times higher than the legal limits established for protection of aquatic life.