Predictors of Maternal Serum Concentrations for Selected Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Pregnant Women and Associations with Birth Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Study from Southern Malawi

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Mar 28;20(7):5289. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20075289.

Abstract

Population exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may result in detrimental health effects, especially to pregnant women, developing foetuses and young children. We are reporting the findings of a cross-sectional study of 605 mothers in their late pregnancy, recruited between August 2020 and July 2021 in southern Malawi, and their offspring. The aim was to measure the concentrations of selected POPs in their maternal serum and indicate associations with social demographic characteristics and birth outcomes. A high level of education was the main predictor of p,p'-DDE (p = 0.008), p,p'-DDT (p < 0.001), cis-NC (p = 0.014), o,p'-DDT (p = 0.019) and o,p'-DDE (p = 0.019) concentrations in maternal serum. Multiparity was negatively associated with o,p'-DDE (p = 0.021) concentrations. Maternal age was also positively associated (p,p'-DDE (p = 0.013), o,p'-DDT (p = 0.017) and o,p'-DDE (p = 0.045) concentrations. Living in rural areas was inversely associated with high maternal serum concentrations of p,p'-DDT (p < 0.001). Gestational age was positively associated with p,p'-DDE (p = 0.031), p,p'-DDT (p = 0.010) and o,p'-DDT (p = 0.022) concentrations. Lastly, an inverse association was observed between head circumference and t-NC (p = 0.044), Oxychlordane (p = 0.01) and cis-NC (p = 0.048). These results highlight the need to continue monitoring levels of POPs among vulnerable populations in the southern hemisphere.

Keywords: Southern Malawi; birth outcomes; persistent organic pollutants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • DDT*
  • Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene
  • Environmental Pollutants*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malawi
  • Mothers
  • Parturition
  • Persistent Organic Pollutants
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnant Women

Substances

  • o,p'-DDT
  • DDT
  • Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene
  • Persistent Organic Pollutants
  • 2,2-(2-chlorophenyl-4'-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethene
  • Environmental Pollutants

Grants and funding

The study was funded by Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), grant number 90380701, and Northern Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Nord), grant number 2019/995. The funders had no role in the design of the study or the collection, analyses and interpretation of the data. They also had no role in writing the manuscript or in the decision to publish the results.