Organochlorine pesticides in specimens from women undergoing spontaneous abortion, premature of full-term delivery.

Organochlorine insecticides (BHC, aldrin, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT) were measured in the blood, placenta and fetus of women experiencing spontaneous abortions, preterm labor or full-term labor using an electron-capture gas chromatographic method. The following trend was found for insecticide concentrations in each of the specimens tested: spontaneous abortions greater than preterm greater than full-term. One conclusion of this work is that the organochlorine insecticides act as antagonists to pregnancy. A plausible explanation for the facilitory role of organochlorine insecticides in the initiation of preterm labor/abortion is hypothesized.