Abstract

Xenobiotics exposure during pregnancy involves significant risks to both the mother and the developing fetus, highlighting the importance of avoiding substances that can potentially harm their health. The growing interest in using toxicological urine analysis as a marker for human exposure to xenobiotics, including illicit substances and therapeutic drugs, has been facilitated by advancements in mass spectrometry, a highly sensitive detection method. The purpose of our research is to establish a profile of gestational exposure to xenobiotics in urine samples from pregnant and post-partum women collected according to a protocol approved by the ethics committee. A total of 61 urine samples were collected and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
The detection of various metabolites confirmed the existence of a substance, while each parent molecule and/or metabolite was interpreted on the basis of the retention peaks observed for each chemical listed in the sample. The results of LC-MS showed that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were the most commonly reported and detected drug class, with a total of 7 cases, followed by 4 cases of benzodiazepines, 3 cases of Amphetamine, and one case each for antidepressants, opioids. While 36 molecules were detected in urine samples by GC-MS, most of which were drugs, including anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, and anxiolytics, followed by molecules derived from chemical products and alkaloids found in plants. The dangers of drug and Herbal medicine intake during pregnancy, particularly concerning certain therapeutic classifications such as anxiolytics and antidepressants, cannot be overstated. Research indicates an increased risk of congenital malformations, such as cleft lip and palate, as well as potential neurodevelopmental effects in offspring exposed to benzodiazepines in utero. Several factors contribute to these risks, with the timing of drug exposure during the different phases of pregnancy playing a particularly critical role.