Concentration of DDT and DDE in plasma and subcutaneous adipose tissue before and after intestinal bypass operation for treatment of obesity

Abstract

DDT and its principal metabolite, DDE, are stored mainly in body fat. In spite of a general prohibition in household use in 1970, the general population in Sweden is still exposed to these pesticides in the diet. The aim of this study was to examine whether weight loss is followed by increased concentrations of the pesticides in adipose tissue and plasma and whether increased concentrations could possibly explain some unusual neurological symptoms observed in some patients after a shunt operation. Eight subjects were examined before and 1 year after jejuno-ileostomy. The mean weight loss was 46.9 ± 2.8 kg ( X + SE ). The concentrations of p, p′-DDE in plasma increased significantly from 5.1 ± 0.9 to 8.2 ± 1.3 ng/ml during the weight loss. This concentration is still well below the concentration in a control group of nonexposed office personnel whose mean concentration is 19 ± 4.0 ng/ml. In adipose tissue the mean concentrations of p, p′-DDT and p, p′-DDE increased from 390 ± 65 to 526 ± 107 ng/g and 863 ± 136 to 1341 ± 194 ng/g, respectively. The ratio of DDE: DDT increased in all but one subject, indicating an increased metabolism of DDT after the operation. The calculated total body content of DDT and DDE decreased in all but two patients after the bypass operation due to increased metabolism and excretion. The risk of DDT intoxication following an intestinal bypass operation appears to be small.