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Concurrent Fetal Exposure to Multiple Environmental Chemicals along the U.S.—Mexico Border: An Exploratory Study in Brownsville, Texas

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  • Ken Sexton

    (University of Texas School of Public Health, Brownsville Regional Campus, 80 Fort Brown—AHC, Brownsville, TX 78520, USA)

  • Jennifer J. Salinas

    (University of Texas School of Public Health, Brownsville Regional Campus, 80 Fort Brown—AHC, Brownsville, TX 78520, USA)

Abstract

There is mounting concern that cumulative exposure to diverse chemicals in the environment may contribute to observed adverse health outcomes in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. To investigate this situation, biomarker concentrations of organochlorine (OC) pesticides/metabolites, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in maternal and umbilical cord blood from pregnant Hispanic women in Brownsville, TX. Results show that both mothers and fetuses were exposed concurrently to a variety of relatively low-level, hazardous environmental chemicals. Approximately 10% of the blood specimens had comparatively high concentrations of specific OC pesticides, PCBs and PAHs. Because many pregnant women in Brownsville live in socioeconomically-disadvantaged and environmentally-challenging circumstances, there is appropriate concern that exposure to these exogenous substances, either individually or in combination, may contribute to endemic health problems in this population, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. The challenge is to identify individuals at highest comparative risk and then implement effective programs to either prevent or reduce cumulative exposures that pose significant health-related threats.

Suggested Citation

  • Ken Sexton & Jennifer J. Salinas, 2014. "Concurrent Fetal Exposure to Multiple Environmental Chemicals along the U.S.—Mexico Border: An Exploratory Study in Brownsville, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:10:p:10165-10181:d:40787
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Amanda M. Evans & Glenn E. Rice & Linda K. Teuschler & J. Michael Wright, 2014. "Joint Exposure to Chemical and Nonchemical Neurodevelopmental Stressors in U.S. Women of Reproductive Age in NHANES," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Ken Sexton & Jennifer J. Salinas & Thomas J. McDonald & Rose M. Z. Gowen & Rebecca P. Miller & Joseph B. McCormick & Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, 2011. "Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood from Pregnant Hispanic Women Living in Brownsville, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Mier, Nelda & Ory, Marcia G. & Zhan, Dongling & Conkling, Martha & Sharkey, Joseph R. & Burdine, James N., 2008. "Health-related quality of life among Mexican Americans living in colonias at the Texas-Mexico border," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(8), pages 1760-1771, April.
    4. Ken Sexton & Jennifer J. Salinas & Thomas J. McDonald & Rose M. Z. Gowen & Rebecca P. Miller & Joseph B. McCormick & Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, 2013. "Biomarkers of Maternal and Fetal Exposure to Organochlorine Pesticides Measured in Pregnant Hispanic Women from Brownsville, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, January.
    5. Edmund C. Merem & Sudha Yerramilli & Yaw A. Twumasi & Joan M. Wesley & Bennetta Robinson & Chandra Richardson, 2011. "The Applications of GIS in the Analysis of the Impacts of Human Activities on South Texas Watersheds," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-29, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mohammad H. Rahbar & Maureen Samms-Vaughan & Manouchehr Hessabi & Aisha S. Dickerson & MinJae Lee & Jan Bressler & Sara E. Tomechko & Emily K. Moreno & Katherine A. Loveland & Charlene Coore Desai & S, 2016. "Concentrations of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Organochlorine Pesticides in Umbilical Cord Blood Serum of Newborns in Kingston, Jamaica," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-11, October.

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