Maternal and cord serum levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) among Lebanese pregnant women and predictors of exposure

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 266; p. 129211
• Main Authors: Helou, Khalil, Matta, Joseph, Harmouche-Karaki, Mireille, Sayegh, Nicole, Younes, Hassan, Mahfouz, Yara, Mahfouz, Maya, Karake, Sara, Finan, Ramzi, Abi-Tayeh, Georges, Narbonne, Jean-François
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Birth outcomes; Brazil; Canada; China; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Exposure predictors; Female; France; Greenland; Human biomonitoring; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - analysis; Infant, Newborn; Life Sciences; Persistent organic pollutants (POPs); Pesticides - analysis; Poland; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; Portugal; Pregnancy; Pregnant Women; Serum; Spain; Tunisia; Canada; China; Brazil; Poland; France; Portugal; Tunisia; Greenland; Spain; C/M; LOD; PCBs; Birth outcomes; Persistent organic pollutants (POPs); CCME; POPs; ANSES; EFSA; SC; HBM; OCPs; Pregnant women; NDL; Exposure predictors; Human biomonitoring; Serum; US EPA; NHANES; TEL; BMI
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129211

In this study, the six indicator non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls NDL-PCBs (PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB138, PCB153, PCB180), as well as four organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and dichlorodiphenyldichlorethylene (DDE) were measured in 98 maternal and 49 cord sera samples of a group of Lebanese women who gave birth in three hospitals in Greater Beirut, between March and July 2018. Results showed that the levels of these persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in maternal serum were below critical limits as well as those in other countries (Tunisia, France, Portugal, Spain, Poland, Greenland, Canada, Brazil, and China). The ratios of cord serum concentrations to maternal serum concentrations of analyzed POPs were higher than 1. PCB maternal serum concentrations were found to be linked to illegal incineration (OR = 5.78; p = 0.004) as well as eggs (OR = 4.68; p = 0.027) and fruits and vegetables consumption (OR = 3.92; p = 0.016). OCP concentrations were linked to red meat and cold cuts intake (OR = 3.67–4.59; p = 0.001–0.004). While PCB levels were not correlated to newborns anthropometric measurements, OCP levels in cord serum were found to be positively linked to the birth length of newborns (p = 0.014–0.027). •PCB and OCP levels in maternal serum were below critical limits.•PCB levels were associated with illegal incinerations & higher egg consumption.•OCP levels were linked to higher red meat and cold cuts consumption.•Cord serum/Maternal serum ratio was > 1.•OCP levels in cord serum were positively linked to birth length.