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Highly industrialized areas, such as the Southern California Bight, often have high levels of contaminants in marine sediments, which can cause chronic exposure to organisms long after their use has ceased. tDDT and tPCB were analyzed in the blubber of 145 stranded pinnipeds that died at local marine mammal centers between 1994 and 2006. Resident species (California sea lion and Pacific harbor seal) had significantly higher concentrations of tDDT and tPCB than the transient species (northern elephant seal). Adult female California sea lions had significantly lower concentrations of tDDT and tPCB than pups, yearlings, and adult males. Concentrations of both tDDT and tPCB in California sea lions significantly declined over time, but did not change in northern elephant seals. Current concentrations of tDDT and tPCB in California sea lions and harbor seals are among the highest values reported worldwide for marine mammals and exceed those reported to cause adverse health effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents the result of the study which provides evidence of high-level of exposure of pregnant women to dichlorodiphenyltrichoroethane (DDT) and dichlorodiphenyldichlorothylene (DDE) in Chiapas, Mexico in 1998 despite the restrictions on the use of those pesticides at that time. Levels of DDT and DDE were detected in the 52 serum samples of pregnant women, 35 percent reported that their houses had been sprayed as part of malaria control program, while 65 percent reported that their houses were sprayed every year.