Maternal-Child Exposures to Persistent Organic Pollutants in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Information about the human burdens of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in low-and middle-income countries is limited. In particular, studies often include only a small subset of POPs. To address this data gap, we aimed to assess maternal-child exposures to POPs in Dhaka, Bangladesh. We quantified 16 organochlorine pesticides, 12 polychlorinated biphenyls, 21 brominated flame retardants, 18 per-and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, 2 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and short-chain chlorinated paraffins in 18 pooled samples of human cord blood from 90 mother-infant pairs living in Dhaka, Bangladesh (2014. In all pooled samples, we detected high levels of p,p′-DDT (median 81.6 ng/g lipid) and its metabolites p,p′-DDE and p,p′-DDD (median 551 and 10.7 ng/g lipid, respectively), where the p,p′-DDE/p,p′-DDT ratio ranged from 2.9 to 9.8 indicating recent dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) exposure. We also detected acenaphthene, decabromodiphenyl ethane, o,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDE, hexachlorobenzene, β-hexachlorocyclohexane, hexabromobenzene, and perfluorooctanoic acid in a subset of samples. For the other 59 target compounds, concentrations were below the limits of detection, despite using ultra-trace analytical methodology. No trends were observed when stratifying the analyses of detected POP concentrations by maternal age, maternal body mass index, or large fish consumption. These findings highlight recent DDT exposure in Dhaka, but the overall POP burden was otherwise low in this sample of pregnant women/newborns. Future monitoring efforts should focus on newly detected POPs for which burdens may be increasing due to ongoing industrialization in Bangladesh.

Impact of DDT on women's health in Bangladesh: escalating breast cancer risk and disturbing menstrual cycle

“…The incidence of breast cancer in the country is expected to be 22.5 per 100,000 females of any age and it is the most common among women aged 15 to 44 years old ( 49 , 50 ). Also, a significant correlation is found between BMI, education level, and serum p,p'-DDE concentration, suggesting that high socio-economic profile women tended to consume expensive, higher-fat foods like meat and fatty fish, influencing increased DDT exposure ( 22 – 24 ). Moreover, a weak positive link between p,p'-DDE levels and beef consumption among Nullipara women hinted at beef and fish being significant contributors to DDT intake in Bangladesh ( 24 ).…”

“…While daily DDT intake levels didn't surpass WHO guidelines, p,p'-DDT levels exceeded the US EPA's oral reference dose. Another study in the Dhaka city, Bangladesh, detected substantial p,p'-DDT levels in cord blood of pregnant mother-newborn in Bangladesh, signifying recent DDT exposure ( 22 , 51 ). Nevertheless, the future risk of the mother suffering from breast cancer and also the daughter who is breastfed or consuming organochlorine i.e., DDT by those mothers can also be affected by reproductive system failure or breast cancer ( 52 – 56 ).…”

“…Studies have indicated a correlation between elevated serum levels of p,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDT and an increased incidence of breast cancer in young females, particularly when DDT usage is extensive ( 21 ). This persistent toxicity poses a concerning threat to the health and wellbeing of Bangladeshi women, particularly in their role as primary caregivers and the transference of contaminants to the next generation through breastfeeding ( 22 ).…”