Occurrence and levels of organochlorine compounds in human breast milk in Bangladesh.

In low-income countries, the use of some organochlorine pesticides is still common in order to increase food production. Monitoring the chemical exposure is an important step in risk-reducing strategies. This is the first study to report concentrations of organochlorines in breast milk of women from Bangladesh where farming is the main income source. Organochlorines such as p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD (i.e., ∑DDT), HCB, α-, ß- and γ-HCH, trans-chlordane, cis-chlordane, oxy-chlordane, trans-nonachlor, cis-nonachlor, mirex and polychlorinated biphenyls (CB 28, 52, 99, 101, 105, 114, 118, 123, 128, 138, 141, 149, 153, 156, 157, 163, 167, 170, 180, 183, 187, 189, 194) were analyzed in breast milk collected in 2002 from 72 first-time mothers (median age 20years) living in the rural area Matlab, Bangladesh. While the concentrations of PCBs and many of the pesticides were low, the concentrations of p,p'-DDT and its metabolite p,p'-DDE were high (median 349 and 1645ngg(-1)lipid, respectively) in comparison to other countries. The median value of ∑DDT was 2123ngg(-1)lipid. The estimated daily exposure to p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE and ∑DDTs was 10, 30 and 42µgkg(-1) body weight, respectively, in 3months old infants. The p,p'-DDE/p,p'-DDT ratio ranged from 1 to 23, where 58% of the mothers had a ratio below 5 indicating recent or ongoing DDT exposure. This study reports infant exposure and maternal body burden of organochlorines through breast milk. Although the findings give no reason to limit breast-feeding, it is essential to identify the main exposure sources and find means to decrease the exposure.

The prevalence of selected pregnancy outcome risk factors in the life-style and medical history of the delivering population in north-western Russia.

OBJECTIVES: A population-based birth registry has been set up for the Arctic town of Moncegorsk in north-western Russia. This investigation describes the health status of the delivering population, including pregnancy history and the prevalence of obesity, infections, smoking and alcohol abuse during the pregnancy period. An overview of the occupations of the delivering population is also presented. METHODS: The birth registry contains detailed and verified information about the newborn, delivery, pregnancy and the mother for 21,214 births by women from Moncegorsk in the period 1973-97. RESULTS: Of the delivering women, 15.7% had experienced one or more spontaneous abortions, and 47.4% had at least one induced abortion. More than 9% had suffered pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in their past. The local nickel company employed 9016 (42.5%) of the delivering women; of these 17% worked in production areas with exposures to compounds of nickel, among other hazards, and 38% are judged to have had possible, or probable, exposure of this type. CONCLUSION: Compared with the delivering population in Norway, that in Moncegorsk was younger and had a lower prevalence of obesity, diabetes and heavy smoking. The most worrisome findings were the high prevalence of a history of abortion and PID. A relatively high proportion of the women worked in physically demanding, or/and nickel-exposed occupations.