Abstract
DDT compounds are used in many developing countries, including South Africa, for the control of malaria vectors. This study investigated biological exposures among workers in relation to job history. A cross-sectional study of 59 workers at the Malaria Control Centre (MCC) in Tzaneen, South Africa, was performed. Tests included a job history questionnaire and the measurement of serum o′ p′ and p′ p′ isomers of DDE, DDT, and DDD, corrected for serum total lipids. Forty-seven (80%) workers donated a blood sample for the determination of serum DDT. The mean number of years worked at the MCC (malaria years) was 15.8±7.8 years and the mean serum DDT was 94.3±57.1 μg/g of lipid. There were no significant associations between short-to-medium-term serum DDT exposure measures ( o′ p′-DDE and o′ p′ and p′ p′ isomers of DDD and DDT) and malaria years. The long-term exposure measure, p′ p′-DDE, was significantly associated with malaria years ( β ̂ =3.0±1.2 μg/g lipid/year; P=0.001; n=47; adjusted for age), but only 27% variance of p′ p′-DDE was explained. Blood total DDT uncorrected for lipid content was strongly related to corrected levels ( β ̂ =0.74±0.48 , P=0.00, R 2=0.77), but uncorrected p′ p′-DDE had a weaker association ( β ̂ =0.0024±0.0013 , P=0.074; R 2=0.53) with malaria years than did corrected levels ( β ̂ =0.042±0.017 ; P=0.016; R 2=0.56). The results show that serum DDT levels for malaria vector-control workers in South Africa with a long-term spraying history are high. Job history information on DDT exposures must be very detailed in order to provide valid estimates of exposure.
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