Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-017-0503-9 Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants in Placentas Sampled from Women in Croatia and an Evaluation of Their DNA Damaging Potential In Vitro Davor Želježić 1,2  · Snježana Herceg Romanić 1  · Darija Klinčić 1  · Marijana Matek Sarić 3  · Judita Grzunov Letinić 4 Received: 5 September 2017 / Accepted: 28 December 2017 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018 Abstract This study investigated the levels and distribution of 17 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (HCB, α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD, and p,p′-DDT) in placenta samples from women living in the coastal area of Croatia. During November 2012 to February 2013, 51 placenta samples were collected from healthy mothers. This study presents the frst report about Croatian placenta samples. Each of the analysed compounds were found in all of the samples; all of the maximum values were < 1 ng g −1 w.w., and the highest median value found for PCB-28 was 11.2 pg g −1 w.w. PCBs and organochlorine pesticide (OCPs) present in placenta samples were tested for their genotoxic potential using the alkaline comet assay. The alkaline comet assay is one of the most reliable methods in assessing the DNA lesions that occurs in direct interaction of a chemical and the genome. The detected levels of PCBs and OCPs in the placenta did not pose a signifcant risk to the children’s DNA during embryonic and foetal growth following short-term exposure. PCB and OCP concentrations in the placenta samples did not induce any signifcant primary damage to DNA in terms of DNA strand breaks and changes in the primary chemical structure, which could be detected by the alkaline comet assay. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pes- ticides (OCPs) are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) because of their physicochemical properties relevant to their environmental fate and commercial purposes. They are released to the environment by intensive human activi- ties in industry and agriculture, and due to their lipophi- licity and persistence, they tend to accumulate in the food chain and bioaccumulate in the adipose tissue of humans and animals. PCBs and OCPs act as endocrine disruptors; some epidemiological research suggests possible damage of neural function, reproductive and immune systems, and temporal increases in the incidence of cancers in hormo- nally sensitive tissues (Longnecker et al. 1997; Ross 2004). Due to worldwide public concern, usage of PCBs and OCPs was banned and/or restricted during the 1970s and 1980s in many industrial countries; however, they are still present in the biotic and abiotic part of the environment. Humans are mainly exposed to PCBs and OCPs via food, although envi- ronmental and occupational exposure cannot be excluded. Most PCBs and OCPs are recognized by the IARC and WHO as probable or possible carcinogens for humans. Some PCB congeners (118, 156) are even declared to be known human carcinogens (IARC 2012). PCBs and OCPs are transferred from the mother to the child primarily via breast milk. In Croatia, the presence of PCBs and OCPs in human milk has been investigated since the early 1970s (Krauthacker et al. 2009). Bergonzi et al. (2009) evaluated levels of PCBs and OCPs in the placenta, maternal and cord blood serum, and maternal adipose tis- sues. Their results indicated a transplacental transfer of pollutants from maternal to foetal tissues. In another study by Bergonzi et al. (2011), the authors discussed potential health efects on newborns and found a positive associa- tion between DDT levels and birth length. In both of these studies, the authors discussed published data of prenatal * Snježana Herceg Romanić sherceg@imi.hr 1 Biochemistry and Organic Analytical Chemistry Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska c. 2, 10 001 Zagreb, Croatia 2 Mutagenesis Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska c. 2, 10 001 Zagreb, Croatia 3 Department of Health Studies, University of Zadar, Trg Kneza Višeslava 9, 23 000 Zadar, Croatia 4 Institute of Public Health Zadar, Kolovare 2, 23 000 Zadar, Croatia