Dynamics of organochlorine compounds identification in rural female population of Armenia and related health issues

Abstract

It is known that women's reproductive function is highly sensitive to the influence of unfavorable factors of the environment. Persistent organic pollutants, to which the majority of organochlorine pesticides are attributed, may penetrate through the placental barrier and considerably affect the course and termination of pregnancy. In this respect the pollution of the environment by POPs is the major ecological problem closely related to the health issues and needs in-depth study. The sociohygienic and monitoring investigations were done (2008-2010) in Ashtarak district of Aragatsotn marz (province) of Armenia to study the levels of organochlorine pesticides in human organism, as well as their possible unfavorable impact on certain indices of reproductive health and newborns' physical development. The results of monitoring showed that organochlorine pesticides levels do not decrease and a high constancy of determination in samples of breast milk of rural population is observed. At the same time, the increase in number of samples (77%) with concurrently determined pollutants (DDT, DDE, γ-HCH) was recorded. According to data/ responses of Questionnaires, in a part of respondents (3-17%) the current pregnancy and delivery proceeded with complications, in anamnesis of the parturient women (7-17%) different disorders of reproductive function (miscarriage, preterm delivery) were registered as well. The total number of respondents with reproductive function problems ranged from 13% to 27%. The results of comparative analysis of organochlorine pesticides levels in breast milk samples of females from pre-mountain (Ashtarak district) and valley (Artashat district) regions of Armenia demonstrated that the determination frequency, concentrations, as well as the total amounts of organochlorine pesticides had higher statistical significance in Artashat district. The comparison and analysis of official statistical data (2010) revealed that in Artashat district as compared to Ashtarak district higher values of certain indices were recorded to testify pregnancy/ delivery course disorders. According to the responses, among parturient women of Artashat district the high frequency of pregnancy/delivery complications (53-63%) and different disorders of reproductive function were revealed, as well as calculated odds ratio values were of statistical significance. The content of organochlorine pesticides in breast milk of parturient women with complicated course of pregnancy and delivery was higher in comparison with women recently confined in normal course. The presented study makes a part of a complex sociohygienic, monitoring investigations on environmental quality, and the results obtained would further serve as a platform for working out recommendations on reduction of the environmental pollution and improvement of human health protection issues in Armenia.