Chlordecone is an organochlorine insecticide that was widely used in the West Indies from 1973 until 1993 to control the banana weevil, the most destructive insect in banana crops. Chlordecone is also and above all a proven endocrine disruptor, a neurotoxicant and a possible carcinogen. This insecticide was banned in mainland France in 1990 and in the West Indies three years later. But it continued to be used until the early 2000s and its persistent presence in soils, river waters and sediments is the cause of contamination of certain foods, including root vegetables, melons and many varieties of fish.
Initial studies had already revealed its impact on the liver and the nervous system. But a new Inserm study shows that chlordecone is also responsible for many premature births, before the 37th week of pregnancy.
To be able to confirm this, researchers from the Institute for Research, Health, Environment and Work (Inserm Unit 1085), based in Rennes and Pointe-à-Pitre, followed more than 1,000 women during their 3rd trimester of pregnancy. , between 2005 and 2007, at the CHU of Basse-Terre and that of Pointe-à-Pitre (in Guadeloupe). Their exposure to chlordecone was estimated by a test in the blood collected during their delivery.
“Maternal exposure to chlordecone has been found to be significantly associated with a shortened duration of pregnancy as well as an increased risk of prematurity, whether delivery is spontaneous or induced” explain the researchers. The children will now, in turn, be followed up to verify the influence of in-utero exposure to chlordecone on their future development.
