Serum concentrations of organochlorine compounds during pregnancy and the newborn

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01606568· OSTI ID:6897087

Roncevic, N; Pavkov, S; Galetin-Smith, R; Vukavic, T; Vojinovic, M; Djordjevic, M

The widespread use of organochlorine compounds as insecticides during the past few decades has led to their ubiqitous presence in the environment. The polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were produced for use as coolant and insulator fluids for transformers and capacitors, as heat transfer fluids and as fire retardants for wood products; heavy industrial usage has led to widespread contamination of the environment with the PCBs. Organochlorine insecticides (OCIs) and PCBs are highly lipid soluble and are resistant to environmental degradation. In human beings these compounds are stored in adipose tissue and are resistant to metabolism. These substances are present in women and the fetus is exposed during utero development by transplacental transfer. Relatively high serum levels of OCIs and PCBs have been found in women with premature delivery. Also, DDT and PCB residue levels were higher in California sea lions which gave birth prematurely than in those with full-term pups. OCIs may disturb the hormonal balance of pregnancy and perhaps precipitate labor. Some DDT analogs are reported to have estrogenic effects and PCBs were also estrogenically active. Limited data exist on the levels and kinetics of OCIs and PCBs during pregnancy and in newborns.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Novi Sad, Yugoslavia
• OSTI ID: 6897087
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Vol. 38:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
ADIPOSE TISSUE
BLOOD SERUM
INSECTICIDES
NEONATES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
PREGNANCY
ANIMAL TISSUES
AROMATICS
BODY
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
TISSUES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology