A comparison of infant hair, cord blood and meconium analysis to detect fetal exposure to environmental pesticides

Abstract

OBJECTIVE-The detection of fetal exposure to environmental pesticides is important because many of the pesticides are neurotoxicants and fetal exposure to these compounds can adversely affect prenatal and subsequent neurodevelopment. The aim of this study was to determine, by the comparative analysis of infant hair, cord blood and meconium, the most sensitive matrix to detect fetal exposure to pesticides. PATIENTS AND METHODS-Pregnantwomen were prospectively recruited from an agricultural site in the Philippines where a preliminary survey indicated a substantial use at home and in the farm of the following pesticides: propoxur, cyfluthrin, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, pretilachlor, bioallethrin, malathion, diazinon and transfluthrin. Infant hair, cord blood and meconium were obtained after birth and were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the above compounds, including lindane and DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis, p-chlorophenylethane) and some of their known metabolites.RESULTS-A total of 638 infants were included in the study. The highest exposure rate to pesticides was detected in meconium (23.8% to propoxur, 1.9% to pretilachlor, 1.9% to cypermethrin, 0.8% to cyfluthrin, 0.6% to DDT and 0.3% to malathion and bioallethrin). Cord blood was only positive for propoxur (1.9%) whereas infant hair was only positive for chlorpyrifos (0.2%). The highest exposure was to household pesticide (propoxur). The frequency and concentration of pesticides were compared in the three matrices and there was a significantly higher frequency and concentration of propoxur, pretilachlor, DDT, cyfluthrin and cypermethrin in meconium compared to cord blood and infant hair. Pesticide metabolites were not found in any of the matrices analyzed, except in one meconium sample which was positive for DDE (4,4′ dichlorodiphenyldichloro ethylene), a DDT metabolite.CONCLUSIONS-There is significant exposure of the pregnant woman and her fetus to pesticides, particularly to the home pesticide, propoxur. Our study has demonstrated that among cord blood, meconium or infant hair, meconium is the most sensitive matrix to analyze for fetal exposure to pesticides. The accumulation of pesticides in meconium, the ease of meconium collection and the Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. large amount of meconium that could be collected are factors that contribute to the increased sensitivity of this matrix. NIH Public Access

Review of the Toxicology of Chlorpyrifos With an Emphasis on Human Exposure and Neurodevelopment

“…However, this is an extraordinarily high concentration and seems unlikely without some known source of direct exposure. A recent study by this same group (Ostrea et al, 2008) reanalyzed these same samples and an additional 212 samples, and did not find chlorpyrifos above the detection limit in any of 638 samples of meconium. Thus, the first report appears to have been in error.…”

Ergonomic and health assessment of farmers’ multi-pesticide exposure

“…Studies have correlated the extent of direct and indirect pesticide exposure to health hazards such as increased mortality, dermal contamination, depression in cholinesterase level, fetal abnormalities spontaneous abortion among pregnant women (Ostrea et al, 2008;Lu,2007;Crisostomo et al, 2002). It is a discouraging fact though, that with knowledge of health risks many farmers perceive that crop productivity outweighs the health risks associated with pesticide use.…”

Occupational Safety of Farmers in the Vegetable Industry

“…Many researchers both locally and abroad have correlated the extent of direct and indirect pesticide exposure and health hazards such as increased mortality [2], dermal contamination [3], fetal abnormalities [4], decrease in cholinesterase level [5], spontaneous abortion [6], the risk of such abortion increasing with exposure before or after conception [7], myocardial infarction [8] and genotoxic risks [9]. Even DNA damage in workers occupationally exposed to pesticide mixtures has been documented [9].…”