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Assessment of DDT and DDE Levels in Soil, Dust, and Blood Samples From Chihuahua, Mexico

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess levels of DDT and DDE in two environmental matrices (soil and dust) and to investigate the blood levels of these insecticides in exposed children living in a north Mexican state (Chihuahua) where DDT was sprayed several years ago during (1) health campaigns for the control of malaria and (2) agricultural activities. DDT and DDE were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In general, lower levels were found in household outdoor samples. The levels in outdoor samples ranged from 0.001 to 0.788 mg/kg for DDT and from 0.001 to 0.642 mg/kg for DDE. The levels in indoor samples ranged from 0.001 to 15.47 mg/kg for DDT and from 0.001 to 1.063 mg/kg for DDE. Similar results to those found in indoor soil were found in dust, in which the levels ranged from 0.001 to 95.87 mg/kg for DDT and from 0.001 to 0.797 mg/kg for DDE. Moreover, blood levels showed that all of the communities studied had been exposed to DDT and/or DDE, indicating a general past or present exposure to DDT. It is important to note that the quotient DDT/DDE in all matrices was always >1. Whether the people living in our study area are at risk is an issue that deserves further analysis. However, applying precautionary principles, it is important to initiate a risk-reduction program to decrease exposure to DDT and its metabolites in people living in this area.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Mexico (CONACYT-SEP 24024).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Venustiano Carranza No. 2405, Col Lomas los Filtros, San Luís Potosí, 78210, SLP, Mexico

    Fernando Díaz-Barriga Martínez, Antonio Trejo-Acevedo, Guillermo Espinosa-Reyes, Jorge Alejandro Alegría-Torres & Iván Nelinho Pérez Maldonado

  2. Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública/Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Publica, Tapachula, CHIS, Mexico

    Antonio Trejo-Acevedo

  3. Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico

    Angel F. Betanzos

  4. Unidad Académica Multidisciplinaria Zona Media, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Rioverde, SLP, Mexico

    Iván Nelinho Pérez Maldonado

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  1. Fernando Díaz-Barriga Martínez
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  2. Antonio Trejo-Acevedo
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Correspondence to Iván Nelinho Pérez Maldonado.

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Martínez, F.DB., Trejo-Acevedo, A., Betanzos, A.F. et al. Assessment of DDT and DDE Levels in Soil, Dust, and Blood Samples From Chihuahua, Mexico. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 62, 351–358 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-011-9700-0

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