Organochlorine pesticide levels in blood serum samples taken at autopsy from auto accident victims in Veracruz, Mexico.

Samples of human blood sera (N = 118) for the determination of organochlorine pesticide levels were obtained at autopsy from auto accident victims in Veracruz, Mexico, during the years 2000 and 2001. The presence of hexachlorobenzene (HCH), beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH), 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p'-DDT), and o,p'-DDT was confirmed by gas-liquid-electron-capture detection chromatography. During the years 2000 and 2001, the respective mean levels of (a) HCB, (b) beta-HCH, (c) p,p'-DDE, (d) o,p'-DDT, (e) p,p'-DDT, and (f) total DDT were (a) 2.1 ng/ml and 1.4 ng/ml, (b) 3.0 ng/ml and 3.6 ng/ml, (c) 21.1 ng/ml and 23.8 ng/ml, (d) 1.2 ng/ml and 0.8 ng/ml, (e) 3.3 ng/ml and 2.5 ng/ml, and, finally, (f) 25.4 ng/ml and 27.1 ng/ml, respectively. High levels of persistent organochlorine pesticides were--and continue to be--present in the blood of individuals who live in Mexico. Levels of insecticide metabolites (e.g., beta-HCH, p,p'-DDE) in blood have increased during recent years (1997-2001), but levels of p,p'-DDT decreased in 2001 because the use of DDT for the control of malaria in Mexico was restricted.