Maternal and cord blood levels of organochlorine pesticides: association with preterm labor.

Objectives: Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been reported to cause adverse reproductive outcomes. Hence, the present study was conducted to estimate and compare the levels of OCPs in maternal and cord blood of preterm labor and full term labor cases as well as assess their role in preterm delivery.

Design And Methods: 23 cases each of preterm labor and full term labor were included in the study. Maternal and cord blood OCP levels were determined by using a GC-MS equipped with an electron capture detector.

Results: Maternal and cord blood levels of alpha-HCH, beta-HCH, gamma-HCH, total-HCH, p,p'DDE and p,p'DDT were found higher in preterm labor than full term labor cases. However, a statistically significant relation was observed between preterm birth and beta-HCH levels only.

Conclusions: Higher blood levels of beta-HCH may be associated with risk of preterm labor.