Related Experiment Videos
Preterm birth in relation to maternal organochlorine serum levels
Laura Torres-Arreola1, Gertrud Berkowitz, Luisa Torres-Sánchez
1Epidemiology and Health Services Research Unit, CMN Century XXI, Institute of Social Security, Mexico City, Mexico.
Purpose:
To evaluate the associations of serum levels of p,pacute;-DDE and two other persistent organochlorine pesticides, beta-HCH and HCB, in relation to preterm birth.
Methods:
During 1995 we performed a case-cohort study and 233 mothers were recruited at three large maternity hospitals in Mexico City. Serum levels were obtained shortly after delivery.
Results:
A non-significant increased risk of preterm birth in relation to serum p,p'-DDE levels was observed. There was also a suggestion of an increased risk of preterm birth among women in the highest tertile of beta-HCH (adjusted odds ratio 1.85, 95% CI = 0.94-3.66, p value for test of trend p = 0.08) compared with the lowest tertile. No association was found between HCB serum levels and preterm births.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that p,pacute;-DDE and other organochlorine pesticides may pose a risk to preterm birth in countries that continue to use such insecticides for malaria control.