Prenatal Exposure to Organophosphate Pesticides in Vojvodina

Introduction: Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are commonly used pesticides which are metabolized and excreted in urine. There are many studies reporting the levels of OP metabolites in urine of pregnant women from different countries, but there is no published data on this problem in Serbia.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the level of OP pesticide exposure of pregnant women in the Vojvodina region, Serbia.

Methods: Sixty healthy pregnant women were recruited to participate in this study. A trained interviewer administered a questionnaire to each woman. The concentrations of five dialkylphosphate metabolites of the organophosphorus pesticides were determined in urine samples that were taken on the third postpartum day. Fifty-eight maternal urine samples were collected.

Results: Approximately two thirds (65.5%) of pregnant women reported living in urban areas and rest living in rural areas. The number of positive urine samples varied from 65.5% for dimethylphosphate (DMP) to 34.5% for diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP). The mean urine concentrations were highest for DMP (5.714 µg/L cre). Other metabolite concentrations averaged around 1 µg/L cre.

Conclusions: This study confirms prenatal exposure to OP pesticides in the Vojvodina region, Serbia. Levels of dialkylphosphate metabolites in pregnant women from Serbia are comparable with those reported for Caribbean countries and the Palestinian region.