Urinary organophosphate metabolite levels in Palestinian pregnant women: results of the Middle East Regional Cooperation Project

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Date
2015-11-17Author
Abdeen, Ziad
Berman, Tamar
Azmi, Kifaya
Abu Seir, Rania
Agha, Hazem
Ein-Mor, Eliana
Göen, Thomas
Stein, Yael
Richter, Elihu
Calderon- Margalit, Ronit
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The purpose of the study was to measure urinary organophosphate (OP) metabolites
in Palestinian pregnant women, and to compare levels with those in pregnant women
in Jerusalem and women from the general population in Israel. We measured six
dialkyl phosphates in urine samples collected from 148 pregnant women from the
West Bank area. Median total dimethyl phosphate (DMtotal) levels were significantly
lower in Palestinian women compared to Jerusalem pregnant women and women in
Israel (p = 0.041). In Palestinian women reporting that their place of residence was
near an agricultural field, DMtotal levels were significantly higher (p = 0.037). Lower
urinary excretion of dimethyl phosphate pesticide metabolites in Palestinian women
compared to Israeli women may result from lower consumption of fruits and vegetables
in the Palestinian population. Our findings highlight differences in OP pesticide
exposure in populations with close geographical proximity but with differences in
culture, diet, lifestyle, and regulatory oversight of pesticides.