Levels of organochlorine pesticides in blood serum and umbilical blood serum of mothers living in Veracruz, Mexico

Organochlorine pesticides, such as DDT and lindane, up to now have had sign ificance in tropical and subtropical countries. Their residues cross the pl acental barrier exposing the fetus body. Sixty-five paired samples of mothe r blood serum and umbilical blood serum were analyzed to quantify the organ ochlorine pesticide residue levels. The organochlorine pesticides HCB, alph a-, beta-, gamma-HCH, pp' DDT, op' DDT, pp' DDE and pp' DDD were detected. In all samples pp' DDE is predominate and HCB reveals ubiquity at a minor l evel. The beta-HCH was detected at a low level, compared to those determine d in other countries. The statistical evaluation indicates differences amon g mean concentrations of major persistent pesticides in mother blood serum and umbilical blood serum and existence of linear correlation among the pes ticide levels determined in both types of samples.