Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2015 Sep 1;17(9):1661-71. doi: 10.1039/c5em00247h. Epub 2015 Aug 4.
Abstract
Pesticides
are commonly used in tropical regions such as the Caribbean for both
household and agricultural purposes. Of particular concern is exposure
during pregnancy, as these compounds can cross the placental barrier and
interfere with fetal development. The objective of this study was to
evaluate exposure of pregnant women residing in 10 Caribbean countries
to the following commonly used classes of pesticides in the Caribbean:
organophosphates (OPs), carbamates, phenoxy acids, and chlorophenols.
Out of 438 urine samples collected, 15 samples were randomly selected
from each Caribbean country giving a total of 150 samples. Samples were
analyzed for the following metabolites: six OP dialkylphosphate
metabolites [dimethylphosphate (DMP), dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP),
dimethyldithiophosphate (DMDTP), diethylphosphate (DEP),
diethylthiophosphate (DETP) and diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP)]; two
carbamate metabolites [2-isopropoxyphenol (2-IPP) and carbofuranphenol];
one phenoxy acid 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D); and five
chlorophenols [2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP), 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP),
2,4,5-trichlorophenol (TCP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), and
pentachlorophenol (PCP)]. OP metabolites were consistently detected in
≥60% of the samples from Antigua and Barbuda,
Bermuda, and Jamaica. Of the carbamate metabolites, 2-IPP was detected
in seven of the 10 Caribbean countries with a detection frequency around
30%, whereas carbofuranphenol was detected in only one sample. The
detection frequency for the phenoxy acid 2,4-D ranged from 20% in
Grenada to a maximum of 67% in Belize. Evidence of exposure to
chlorophenol pesticides was also established with 2,4-DCP by geometric
means ranging from 0.52 μg L(-1) in St Lucia to a maximum of 1.68 μg
L(-1) in Bermuda. Several extreme concentrations of 2,5-DCP were
detected in four Caribbean countries-Belize (1100 μg L(-1)), Bermuda
(870 μg L(-1)), Jamaica (1300 μg L(-1)), and St Kitts and Nevis (1400 μg
L(-1)). 2,4,5-TCP, 2,4,6-TCP, and pentachlorophenol were rarely
detected. This biomonitoring study underscores the need for Caribbean
public health authorities to encourage their populations, and in
particular pregnant women, to become more aware of the potential routes
of exposure to pesticides and to utilize these chemicals more cautiously
given the possible adverse effects such exposures can have on their
unborn children and infants.