Cross-placental transfer of organochlorine pesticides in Mexican free-tailed bats from Oklahoma and New Mexico

Thies, ML; McBee, K

Dep. Biol. Sci., Sam Houston State Univ., Huntsville, TX 77341, USA

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 239-242, 1994 ISSN 0090-4341

A total of 41 pregnant Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) were collected from Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, and Vickery Cave, Oklahoma, in May and June 1990 and May 1991 for organochlorine pesticide analyses. Residues of p,p'-DDE were detected by gas chromatography in 40 embryos at levels highly correlated with brain concentrations (r = 0.496) but were not correlated mother's body tissues (r = 0.060). Embryonic levels also did not correlate with either embryonic fat content (r = 0.018) or maternal fat content (r = 0.300), suggesting that placental membranes offer only marginal protection for developing embryos against exposure to lipophilic organochlorine pesticides.