Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Dietary exposure of the population of the French West Indies to the organochlorine insecticide chlordecone (CLD) through the consumption of contaminated foodstuffs remains a major public health concern. Although depuration of contaminated animals before slaughter may constitute a promising strategy for ensuring the safety of animal products, the impact of gestational stage on the toxicokinetics of CLD remains poorly characterised. This study aimed to characterize and quantify CLD elimination in ewes ( N =8) orally exposed to CLD during the final two months of gestation through the collection and analysis of ewe blood and faecal samples, together with lamb blood samples and body burden measurements. CLD and chlordecol (CLDOH) concentrations are quantified using QuEChERS extraction followed by GC-MS/MS analysis for serum and LC-MS/MS analysis for faeces and body burden. Our data indicated that CLD accumulation in ewes was delayed during gestation compared with non-gestating animals, likely due to the transfer of CLD from the ewes to their lambs, which resulted in the excretion of approximately 2–6% of the total CLD intake. The faecal excretion rate in gestating ewes (46–77% of total CLD intake) was similar to that previously observed in non-gestating ewes. However, the difference in the CLD/CLDOH ratio may indicate an alteration in metabolism that warrants further investigation.In conclusion, CLD depuration in gestating ewes is predominantly faecal, but effective maternal transfer to lambs occurs. Further research is warranted to expand upon these findings by clarifying the role of lactation in CLD depuration and its relevance to field depuration strategies.
Language: English
Subfield: Toxicology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,400
OpenAlex ID: W7220716182