DDT and DDE concentrations in the blood of Mexican children residing in the southeastern region of Mexico

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the levels of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) in the blood of children living in the southeastern region of Mexico. In this study, we found high levels of DDT and its principal metabolite (DDE) in the blood of children residing in the communities studied. The levels of total DDT found in our study ranged from 4,676.4 ng/g lipid to 64,245.2 ng/g lipid. All of the children in the study had detectable levels of DDT and/or DDE. In conclusion, our data indicate that children living within the study areas are exposed to high levels of DDT and DDE. Moreover, these results can be used as a trigger to revisit local policies on environmental exposures.

Keywords:

• DDE
• DDT
• Mexico
• organochlorine compounds
• POPs

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología of Mexico (CONACYT-SEMARNAT 107900).