Contamination index. A novel parameter for metal and pesticide analyses in maternal blood and umbilical cord

Abstract

PURPOSE:To evaluate the contamination index of metals and pesticides in pregnant women, and to relate this to perinatal outcomes. METHODS:Descriptive, retrospective, exploratory study, developed from existing secondary data analyses at Level III maternity center. A total of 40 mothers with their newborns (NB), living in a rural area in Botucatu-Brazil and surrounding region. Blood samples from mothers and newborn were collected to determine the total contamination index for metals and pesticides. The concentrations of each metal and each pesticide were determined in blood samples of mothers and their newborns by Rudge's results. After obtaining these concentrations, the total contamination index in mother and NB was calculated, along with its correlation with clinical parameters of NB. RESULTS:There was no correlation (p> 0.05) between maternal contamination index with NB clinical parameters, and NB contamination index versus NB clinical parameters. CONCLUSION:The maternal contamination index of metals and pesticides was not related to perinatal outcomes, but it could be used as baseline parameter in future toxicological studies, regarding to long-term toxic characteristics as persistent organic pollutants, its long half-lives, bioacumulative, and expected to impose serious health effects on humans.

Evidence on Human Exposure to Pesticides and the Occurrence of Health Hazards in the Brazilian Population: A Systematic Review

“…And just as in this study, regarding poisoning attempts, "chumbinho" was also used, a product that has been banned in the country since 2012. In a study carried out in Taiwan between 2011 and 2019, there was a marked reduction in suicide rates by pesticides after the ban of Paraquat in 2018, compared to the expected suicide rates based on the linear pre-ban trends of 2011-2017 (53), which is not verified in this study, that shows the use of pesticides considered prohibited in the country in suicide attempts.…”

“…For every three accidental cases, there is an attempt or a suicide by young people (BRASIL; MS; FIOCRUZ). In adults, the rate of attempts increases significantly, of which over 60% are due to the use of psychotropic medications (53), given that this is 10% lower than what our study found.…”

Exposure to Pesticides in Pregnant Women: An Integrative Review

“…Of the 15 articles selected, only one was carried out in Brazil, being retrospective, exploratory, and descriptive in nature. In the study, Motta et al [10] evaluated the rate of metal and pesticide contamination in pregnant women, relating it to perinatal outcomes, in the rural area of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil; they analyzed blood samples from 40 mothers and their newborns; the results indicated that there was no statistically positive correlation (P > 0.05) between maternal contamination index and clinical parameters of newborns as well as the contamination index of newborns and their clinical parameters.…”

Exposição de crianças a agrotóxicos: uma revisão integrativa

“…Um estudo realizado por Motta et al (2016), tinha como objetivo avaliar o índice de contaminação de metais e agrotóxicos em mulheres grávidas e relacioná-lo a resultados perinatais, na área rural da região de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil. Analisou-se amostras de sangue de 40 mães e de seus recém-nascidos, por meio de resultados de Rudge.…”

“…Analisou-se amostras de sangue de 40 mães e de seus recém-nascidos, por meio de resultados de Rudge. Os resultados obtidos indicam que não houve correlação estatisticamente positiva (p > 0,05) entre o índice de contaminação materna com os parâmetros clínicos dos recém-nascidos (RN) e o índice de contaminação do RN versus os parâmetros clínicos do RN (Motta et al, 2016). Nascimento et al (2017) avaliaram a saúde de crianças que vivem em uma região produtora de tabaco no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, através de diferentes biomarcadores de exposição e efeito, além de parâmetros hematológicos.…”