FETAL ORGAN AND TISSUE CONTENT OF ORGANOH ALOGENS AND POLYCHLORINATEDBIPHENYL

Organohalogens are used as pesticides and in chemical industries. They are secreted with breast milk and accumulated in fat tissue of infant s. Organohalogens can be found already in newborns. We analysed polych lorinated biphenyl (PCB), DDT, hexachlorcyclohexan (HCH), and heptachl or in subcutaneous fat tissue and other tissues (placenta, liver, kidn ey, lung, brain, thymus, muscle, heart) of 34 fetuses and dead childre n. These substances were found regulary in placenta, in fetal subcutan eous fat tissue and in fetal organs. They therefore can influence poss ibly early and sensitive stages of intrauterine development. The avera ge concentrations found in fetal fat tissue were: PCB 0,7 mg/kg fat ti ssue, DDT 0,7 mg/kg, HCH 0,14 mg/kg, and heptachlor 0,03 mg/kg.