Assessment of DDT, DDE, and 1-hydroxypyrene levels in blood and urine samples in children from Chiapas Mexico

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was assess co-exposure to DDT, DDE (main DDT metabolite), and PAHs (1-hydroxypyrene) in areas where biomass is used to cook and to heat homes and where DDT was used to combat malaria transmission.

Methods: During 2009, we analyzed a total of 190 blood and urine samples from children living in six communities in Mexico. Quantitative analyses of DDT and DDE were performed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Analyses of 1-hydroxypyrene were performed by HPLC using a fluorescence detector.

Results: In this work, we found high levels of DDT and its principal metabolite (DDE) in the blood of children living in four communities in Chiapas located in the southeastern region of Mexico (range, <LOD to 11,815 ng/g lipid and <LOD to 194436 ng/g lipid for DDT and DDE, respectively). Moreover, high levels of 1-hydroxypyrene (a PAH biomarker) were found in urine samples (range, 0.02 to 4.82 μmol/mol creatinine). An important finding was that around one third of the children studied in these areas were co-exposed to the three compounds.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that children in these communities were exposed to DDT and its metabolites, and to other contaminants generated by the combustion of firewood. Therefore, the complex mixture studied in this study (PAHs and DDT/DDE) requires further research.