Serum DDT Levels Research Articles

Selected Articles from This Issue

The pesticide DDT is still used despite being an endocrine disruptor causing multi-generational harm in animals. Cirillo, La Merrill and colleagues used data from 3-generations of humans in the Child Health and Development Studies cohort. They report that grandmothers' perinatal serum DDT levels were linked directly to obesity (N=258 triads) and earlier first menstrual periods (N=235 triads) in young adult granddaughters. These associations remained significant independent of body mass index in the second generation. Given obesity and early first menstrual period are risk factors for various cancers, ancestral DDT disruption may lead to higher risk of cancers in the current generation of young adults.A data source sufficient to examine lung cancer incidence and risk factors by smoking status among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) females has not been available. DeRouen and colleagues describe development of a large, multilevel resource linking electronic health record data from healthcare systems with high AANHp. representation to cancer registry and geospatial data. The resource comprises 2.2 million adults, including 250,053 AANHPI females across eleven AANHPI single and multi-racial/ethnic groups. Prevalence of never-smoking among AANHPI females with lung cancer varied widely across ethnic groups. Integrative data approaches are valuable for prospective cancer research among small populations.The causes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer, remain largely unknown. In this study of 482 B-cell ALL patients in California, Xu and colleagues used epigenetic biomarkers of prenatal tobacco smoke exposure to examine the association with gene deletions in diagnostic leukemia samples. Increased prenatal smoking exposure, as measured by DNA methylation at AHRR CpG cg05575921 and by a polyepigenetic score, was associated with a higher frequency of gene deletions. These findings support that tobacco smoke exposure in early life may have leukemogenic effects on developing B-cells, and warrant further studies into the molecular mechanisms involved.Treatments for childhood cancer can cause neuromuscular dysfunction including impaired strength, sensation, and balance. Rodwin and colleagues estimated the prevalence and cumulative incidence of neuromuscular dysfunction in 25,583 survivors and 5,044 siblings from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Neuromuscular dysfunction was 9.9 times more prevalent in survivors than siblings, had affected 24.3% of survivors by 20 years post-diagnosis, and was associated with adverse health and socioeconomic outcomes. Associated adverse outcomes included obesity, lower educational attainment, and emotional distress. Continued surveillance and better interventions to prevent and treat neuromuscular dysfunction are needed in survivors of childhood cancer.

In Utero Organochlorine Exposure and Obesity in Children of Farmworkers

ISEE-0465 Background and Objective: In utero exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds, such as DDT and DDE, has been hypothesized to increase risk of obesity later in life. The Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study is a longitudinal birth cohort study of low-income Latinas living in an agricultural community in California. We examined the relation of in utero DDT and DDE exposure with obesity at 5 and 7 years. Methods: We include 265 CHAMACOS children who had maternal serum DDT levels and follow-up at 5 and 7 years. In utero exposure to DDT and DDE was measured in maternal serum during pregnancy and reported as lipid-adjusted values (ng/g). At 5- and 7-years, standing height (cm) and weight (g) were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight (kg) / height (m)2. Obesity was defined as ≥95th percentile of the sex-specific BMI-for-age calculated using 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts. Results: At 5 years, 87 (33%) of 265 children were obese. The prevalence of obesity increased with exposure to DDT (I: 1.5–7.3 ng/g (29.9%); II: 7.4–11.6 ng/g (33.3%); III: 11.7–41.6 ng/g (34.8%); IV: 41.7–33,174.0 ng/g (33.3%)) and DDE (I: 48.7–597.4 ng/g (26.9%); II: 597.5–1,067.6 ng/g (36.4%); III: 1,067.7–2,679.7 ng/g (28.8%); IV: 2,679.8–159,303.3 ng/g (39.4%)). Compared with children in the lowest quartile of exposure, the odds of obesity was increased in the highest quartile of exposure for DDE (IV: OR = 1.77, 95% CI 0.85, 3.68, P = 0.13), but not for DDT (IV: OR = 1.18, 95% CI 0.56, 2.44, P = 0.67). Conclusion: At 5 years, the prevalence of obesity in the CHAMCOS cohort is high. We found some evidence that in utero DDE but not DDT exposure may increase the likelihood of becoming obese with age. We will present the 7 year data.

A Prospective Study of Serum DDT and Progesterone and Estrogen Levels across the Menstrual Cycle in Nulliparous Women of Reproductive Age

The authors explored whether exposure to 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) and its isomers and metabolites affects female reproductive hormones characterized by urinary pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG) and estrone conjugate (E(1)C) levels. During 1996-1998, 287 newly married Chinese women nonsmokers intending to conceive were prospectively studied. Serum for DDT measurement was collected at enrollment, and daily menstrual diaries and urine specimens were collected for 1 year or until a clinical pregnancy was achieved. More than 500 menstrual cycles were studied totaling over 8,000 days. Day of ovulation was determined for each cycle, and the association of serum DDT levels with daily PdG and E(1)C levels in a +/-10-day window around ovulation was analyzed. After adjustment for covariates including age, body mass index, and occupational exposures, consistent inverse associations of most DDT forms occurred with urine E(1)C during the periovulation phase and with urine PdG during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. For example, a 10-ng/g increase in serum p,p'-DDE was associated with a 0.05-log(E(1)C) decrease (p = 0.03) in the periovulation phase and a 0.06-log(PdG) decrease (p = 0.03) in the luteal phase. These results support the potential for DDT to be associated with decrements in estrogen and progesterone levels at times during the menstrual cycle that are critical for ovulation and early pregnancy maintenance.

Organochlorine Pesticides and Male Genital Anomalies in the Child Health and Development Studies

Increasing rates of cryptorchidism and hypospadias in human populations may be caused by exogenous environmental agents. We conducted a case–control study of serum levels of p,p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its major metabolite, p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), and cryptorchidism and hypospadias in the Child Health and Development Study, a longitudinal cohort of pregnancies that occurred between 1959 and 1967, a period when DDT was produced and used in the United States. Serum was available from the mothers of 75 male children born with cryptorchidism, 66 with hypospadias, and 4 with both conditions. We randomly selected 283 controls from the cohort of women whose male babies were born without either of these conditions. Overall, we observed no statistically significant relationships or trends between outcomes and serum measures. After adjusting for maternal race, triglyceride level, and cholesterol level, compared with boys whose mothers had serum DDE levels < 27.0 ng/mL, boys whose mothers had serum DDE levels ≥61.0 ng/mL had odds ratios of 1.34 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.51–3.48] for cryptorchidism and 1.18 (95% CI, 0.46–3.02) for hypospadias. For DDT, compared with boys whose mothers had serum DDT levels < 10.0 ng/mL, boys whose mothers had serum DDT levels ≥20.0 ng/mL had adjusted odds ratios of 1.01 (95% CI, 0.44–2.28) for cryptorchidism and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.33–1.89) for hypospadias. This study does not support an association of DDT or DDE and hypospadias or cryptorchidism.

Exploration of different methods for measuring DDT exposure among malaria vector-control workers in Limpopo Province, South Africa

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.

Serum DDT in malaria vector control sprayers in Mato Grosso State, Brazil.

DDT was used intensively in vector control programs in Mato Grosso State until 1997. The present study aimed to determine DDT concentrations in blood samples from Brazilian National Health Foundation workers in Mato Grosso. Blood samples were analyzed from 41 sprayers, 20 drivers, and 14 unexposed workers, collected in June 1999 and October 2000 in two regions of the State (Sinop and C ceres). Sprayers and drivers were occupationally exposed, and no significant differences were found in serum DDT levels between these two groups in either region. Likewise, no significant differences were found in p,p'DDE and total DDT levels between C ceres and Sinop. However, p,p'DDT levels were higher in Sinop due to the intensive use of this insecticide in the region in recent years. The two regions together showed the following results: total DDT ranging from 7.50 micro g/L to 875.5 micro g/L (median = 135.5 micro g/L) for sprayers; from 34.5 micro g/L to 562.3 micro g/L (median = 147.7 micro g/L) for drivers; and from undetected to 94.8 micro g/L (median = 22.5 micro g/L) for unexposed workers.

Breast cancer, lactation history, and serum organochlorines.

The authors analyzed the relation between lactation history, organochlorine serum levels-in particular, 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE)-and the risk of breast cancer within a subsampe from a larger breast cancer case-control study conducted among women living in Mexico City, Mexico, between 1990 and 1995. From the original study, they selected a random sample of 260 subjects (1:1 case/control ratio). Analysis was restricted to 120 cases and 126 controls who had given birth to at least one child and had complete information on all key variables. Serum DDE levels were higher among cases (mean = 3.84 microg/g lipids, standard deviation = 5.98) than among controls (mean = 2.51 microg/g lipids, standard deviation = 1.97). After adjustment for age, age at menarche, duration of lactation, Quetelet index, and serum DDT levels, serum DDE levels were positively related to the risk of breast cancer (adjusted odds ratio (OR)Q1-Q2 = 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50, 3.06; ORQ1-Q3 = 2.31, 95% CI: 0.92, 5.86; ORQ1-Q4 = 3.81, 95% CI: 1.14, 12.80; test of trend, p = 0.02). The increased risk associated with higher serum DDE levels was more apparent among postmenopausal women (ORQ1-Q4 = 5.26, 95% CI: 0.80, 34.30; test of trend p = 0.03). A longer period of lactation was associated with a slightly decreased risk of breast cancer independently of serum DDE levels (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.85, 0.99 change in risk per 10 months of lactation). Serum DDT level was not related to the risk of breast cancer. The data suggest that high levels of exposure to DDE may increase women's risk of breast cancer, particularly among postmenopausal women.

Historical changes in serum PCB and DDT levels in an environmentally-exposed cohort.

A previously characterized cohort of 115 Great Lakes fisheaters and 95 non-fisheating controls was re-examined in 1989 to evaluate changes that had occurred in serum PCB and DDT levels since the 1982 study. Substantial and significant decreases in mean serum DDT levels had occurred in both fisheaters (25.8 ppb vs 15.6 ppb) and controls (9.6 ppb vs 6.8 ppb) over this time period. In contrast, only a slight decrease in serum PCB levels was observed, and in fisheaters only. No association between individual changes in serum PCB or DDT levels and self-reported changes in Great Lakes fish consumption was observed. The findings from this longitudinal examination of serum PCB and DDT levels confirm earlier cross-sectional surveys of western populations, and demonstrate that the prohibition of DDT has been successful in reducing the level of DDT contamination in human populations.

Human serum ddt levels related to consumption of fish from the coastal waters of los angeles

AbstractFish from Los Angeles County coastal waters contain high concentrations of the banned pesticide DDT, its metabolites DDE and DDD, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The most popular sportfish caught from piers in southern California (comprising 30% of the catch), white croaker (Genyonemus lineatus), contains total DDT levels above the Federal Drug Administration guideline (5 mg/kg wet weight) in edible tissue at 7.6 mg/kg wet weight total DDT.We quantified blood serum levels of DDTs and PCBs in 16 subjects who consumed locally caught sportfish at least three times a week for 3 years and compared them with those in nine control subjects who consumed little or no local fish. No subjects or controls had other known significant exposures to DDT and its metabolites. The consumers of locally caught sportfish had significantly higher serum levels of total DDT (mean 35 ng/ml) than did nonconsumers (mean 7 ng/ml). Within the consumer groups, serum levels of 4,4′‐DDE and fish consumption history were significantly correlated.