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.


Mwapasa, Mphatso ORCID: 0000-0001-8402-6133, Huber, Sandra ORCID: 0000-0003-4745-8767, Chakhame, Bertha Magreta ORCID: 0000-0003-4924-1385, Maluwa, Alfred, Odland, Maria Lisa ORCID: 0000-0003-4340-7145, Ndhlovu, Victor ORCID: 0000-0003-1606-0959, Röllin, Halina ORCID: 0000-0001-5247-6519, Xu, Shanshan and Odland, Jon Øyvind ORCID: 0000-0002-2756-0732 (2023) 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. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20 (7). 5289-.

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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 <i>p,p</i>'-DDE (<i>p</i> = 0.008), <i>p,p</i>'-DDT (<i>p</i> < 0.001), cis-NC (<i>p</i> = 0.014), <i>o,p</i>'-DDT (<i>p</i> = 0.019) and <i>o,p</i>'-DDE (<i>p</i> = 0.019) concentrations in maternal serum. Multiparity was negatively associated with <i>o,p</i>'-DDE (<i>p</i> = 0.021) concentrations. Maternal age was also positively associated (<i>p,p</i>'-DDE (<i>p</i> = 0.013), <i>o,p</i>'-DDT (<i>p</i> = 0.017) and <i>o,p</i>'-DDE (<i>p</i> = 0.045) concentrations. Living in rural areas was inversely associated with high maternal serum concentrations of <i>p,p</i>'-DDT (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Gestational age was positively associated with <i>p,p</i>'-DDE (<i>p</i> = 0.031), <i>p,p</i>'-DDT (<i>p</i> = 0.010) and <i>o,p</i>'-DDT (<i>p</i> = 0.022) concentrations. Lastly, an inverse association was observed between head circumference and t-NC (<i>p</i> = 0.044), Oxychlordane (<i>p</i> = 0.01) and cis-NC (<i>p</i> = 0.048). These results highlight the need to continue monitoring levels of POPs among vulnerable populations in the southern hemisphere.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Humans, Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene, DDT, Environmental Pollutants, Cross-Sectional Studies, Mothers, Pregnancy, Parturition, Child, Child, Preschool, Pregnant Women, Malawi, Female, Persistent Organic Pollutants
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Life Courses and Medical Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 17 May 2023 13:48
Last Modified: 17 May 2023 13:49
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075289
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20075289
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3170441
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