Organochlorine pesticide levels in maternal adipose tissue, maternal bloodserum, umbilical blood serum, and milk from inhabitants of Veracruz, Mexico

Organochlorine pesticides, due to their persistence, accumulate in food cha ins and cause elevated contamination in human beings. These residues biocon centrate in lipid-rich tissues:according to the equilibrium pattern of inte rnal transport and lipid tissue content. The analyses of maternal adipose t issue,maternal blood serum, umbilical blood serum, colostrum; and mature mi lk indicate circulation of these compounds through all compartments of the maternal body, including their crossover of the placental barrier. The grea test residue levels found correspond to DDTs, with highest levels determine d in colostrum (5.71 mg/kg of DDT total), followed by adipose tissue with 5 .66 mg/kg and in mature milk with 4.70 mg/kg. Among DDTs, pp'DDE is the mos t predominant compound. The paired analyses of organochlorine pesticide res idue levels between mother blood serum and umbilical blood serum demonstrat e significant correlation and their transfer from mother to fetus through t he placenta. The paired analyses of adipose:tissue and colostrum and mature milk contamination levels indicate a high degree of coherence, principally of DDT, in the body and lactation as a decontamination means.