Abstract
Background: p,pá-DDE, the main metabolite of the insecticide DDT, is prenatally transmitted from mother to fetus. Many potential effects of low-level exposure have been reported, including preterm delivery, growth retardation, and neurological impairment, although scientific evidence is still lacking. We present p,pá-DDE concentrations in full-term human neonates over a time-period of 20 years in Germany.
Methods: Peripheral venous blood samples were taken from neonates born in 1984–1985 (n = 80) and 1994–1995 (n = 80), respectively, as well as cord-blood samples from neonates born in 1998 (n = 199), and peripheral venous blood samples from neonates born in 2002 (n = 20). Blood specimens were immediately centrifuged, and serum was stored at −20°C until analysis. Serum p,pá-DDE concentrations were determined with capillary gas chromatography followed by electron capture detection. Differences between study groups were tested for mean differences with Kruskall-Wallis test.
Results: There were no differences between the study groups with regard of sex distribution, birth-weight, gestational age, age of the mothers, or smoking behavior of the parents. We found a chronological, significant (p<0.0001) decline of neonatal serum p,pá-DDE concentrations, with highest values in 1984–1985 (mean; range: 1.49 ìg/L; 0.30–5.58) and lowest in 2002 (0.18 ìg/L; 0.07 – 0.54; reference value [95th percentile by rank], 0.30 ìg/L).
Conclusions: Neonatal p,pá-DDE concentrations today are significantly lower than in the mid-1990s, when many studies of adverse side-effects of p,pá-DDE were performed. The present results suggest that the neonatal burden with p,pá-DDE is now so low that there may be no attendant health risks for our newborns and children, although further studies are warranted to elucidate possible long-term health effects even of low-level organochlorine pollution.
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Lackmann, G. 145 Chronological Changes of Neonatal Serum P,PÁ-DDE Concentrations in Germany During The Past 20 Years. Pediatr Res 56, 488 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200409000-00168
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200409000-00168
