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Organochlorine pesticide residue levels in blood serum of inhabitants from Veracruz, Mexico

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Abstract

The objective of the present study was to monitor the levels of organochlorine pesticides HCB; α-, β-, γ-HCH; pp′DDE; op′DDT; and pp′DDT in blood serum of Veracruz, Mexico inhabitants. Organochlorine pesticides were analyzed in 150 blood serum samples that constituted that which remained after clinical analyses, using gas chromatography–electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). The results were expressed as milligrams per kilogram on fat basis and micrograms per liter on wet weight. Only the following pesticides were detected: p,p′-DDE was the major organochlorine component, detected in 100% of samples at mean 15.8 mg/kg and 8.4 μg/L; p,p′-DDT was presented in 41.3.% of monitored samples at mean 3.1 mg/kg and 1.4 μg/L; β-HCH was found in 48.6% of the samples at mean 4.9 mg/kg and 2.7 μg/L; op′DDT was determined to be in only 3.3% of monitored samples at mean 2.7 mg/kg and 1.4 μg/L. The pooled samples divided according to sex showed significant differences of β-HCH and pp′DDE concentrations in females. The samples grouped according to age presented the third tertile as more contaminated in both sexes, indicating age as a positively associated factor with serum organochlorine pesticide levels in Veracruz inhabitants.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their appreciation to Winston Smith of the Peace Corps México for his help in editing this article and we thank the Laboratory of Environmental Engineering from Institute of Enginery, University of Veracruz for analytical support in total lipid determinations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Veracruz, SS Juan Pablo II s/n, 91980, Boca del Río, Veracruz, Mexico

    Stefan M. Waliszewski

  2. Biomedical Research Center, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    M. Caba, E. Meza & R. Zepeda

  3. Biomedical Sciences Doctor Study, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    M. Herrero-Mercado

  4. Faculty of Chemical Sciences, University Autonomous of Coahuila, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

    H. Saldariaga-Noreña

  5. Department of Biological Sciences, West University, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico

    C. Martínez-Valenzuela

  6. Center of Atmospheric Sciences, UNAM, México, Distrito Federal, Mexico

    S. Gómez Arroyo & R. Villalobos Pietrini

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  1. Stefan M. Waliszewski
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  2. M. Caba
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  3. M. Herrero-Mercado
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  4. H. Saldariaga-Noreña
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  5. E. Meza
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  6. R. Zepeda
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  7. C. Martínez-Valenzuela
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  8. S. Gómez Arroyo
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  9. R. Villalobos Pietrini
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Correspondence to Stefan M. Waliszewski.

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Waliszewski, S.M., Caba, M., Herrero-Mercado, M. et al. Organochlorine pesticide residue levels in blood serum of inhabitants from Veracruz, Mexico. Environ Monit Assess 184, 5613–5621 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2366-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2366-2

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