We report on the concentrations of DDT and its metabolites (p,p鈥? DDE, p,p鈥?DDT, o,p鈥?DDE, o,p鈥?DDD, p,p鈥?DDD, and o,p鈥?DDT) in maternal plasma of 255 delivering women residing in three sites along Indian Ocean, namely in malaria endemic where IRS takes place, low risk and non-malaria sites.
Concentrations of measured compounds were found to be significantly higher in the malaria endemic site (p = 0.0001): the geometric mean concentration (95%confidence intervals; n = 91) for o,p鈥?DDE was 9 ng/g lipids (7-10); for p,p鈥?DDE, 3840 ng/g lipids (3008-4902); for o,p鈥?DDD, 8 ng/g lipids (6-9); for p,p鈥?DDD, 26 ng/g lipids (20-32); for o,p鈥?DDT, 168 ng/g lipids (127-221) and for p,p鈥?DDT, 2194 ng/g lipids (1706-2823). These compounds were also detected in women residing in other sites but in lower concentrations.
The maternal characteristics, age, IRS, number of children and breastfeeding were significantly associated for both p,p鈥?DDE and p,p鈥?DDT levels in the malaria area where exposure through IRS is predominant. There was no association between maternal characteristics and DDT levels in the low risk and non-malaria area.
Results presented are of particular value to the policy decision makers and regulatory toxicology organizations as they characterise the extent of controlled exposure to DDT used exclusively for IRS purposes.
Furthermore, findings of this study will form a base for further investigation of foetal exposure to pollutants.