Legacy and current use pesticides residues in pregnant women: relation with the anthropometric neonate parameters and the residence áreas. A pilot study.

RODRIGUEZ P.R.; VERA B.; MIGLIORANZA K.S.B.; MUNTANER M.C.; ONDARZA P.M.; GUIÑAZU N.L.

Congreso; I Congreso Virtual Iberoamericano de Salud Ambiental.; 2021

Introduction: Exposure to both forbidden organochlorine (OCP) and current use pesticides (CUP) may occur in sites with historical and present intensive application. In the rural settings of the Rio Negro and Neuquén provinces, North Patagonia, Argentina, land surfaces include apple, pear and fine fruits crops. Chemical pest control was performed by OCP, nowadays; it is done by CUP (mainly chlorpyrifos-CP) application. The aim of this pilot study was to determine concentrations of OCP and selected CUP in pregnant women residing in the North Patagonia, and to look for relationships within the residue levels, the women residential settings and the biometric parameters of neonates and the placenta.Materials and methods: Pregnant women were asked to participate in the study and to complete a guided questionnaire. Placentas (n=20) were collected and the morphometric parameters of newborns and tissue were recorded. All sampling was performed under permission of the local Advisory Committee of Biomedical Research in Humans. CP, trifluralin, chlorothalonil, HCHs, HCB, endosulfans, DDTs, chlordanes, and heptachlors residues were quantified in the placenta by GC-ECD. Samples were analyzed all together and then grouped by their residential settings, in urban and rural groups.Results and discussion: Total pesticide concentration was 1,425.38 ± 1,659.19 ng/g lw, where DDTs and CP showed a high contribution, even surpassing levels found in Asia, Europe and Africa. CP was detected in 95% of samples (106.17 ± 148.14 ng/g lw). pp´-DDE, endosulfan sulfate, -chlordane and -HCH levels were associated with the neonate antropometric parameters with lower Ponderal Index. Significantly higher DDTs, pp´-DDE, pp´-DDD, and heptachlor epoxide concentrations were found in mothers living in rural vs urban settings. Pregnant women living in the North Patagonia are exposed to a complex mixture of neurotoxic and potentially harmful pesticides, which might impact neonates through the placenta transfer.