Serum Levels Of Organochlorine Pesticides Research Articles

Case-control study of environmental toxins and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis involving the national ALS registry

Objective: Neurotoxic chemicals are suggested in the etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We examined the association of environmental and occupational risk factors including persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and ALS risk among cases from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National ALS Registry and age, sex, and county-matched controls. Methods: Participants completed a risk factor survey and provided a blood sample for OCP measurement. ALS cases were confirmed through the Registry. Conditional logistic regression assessed associations between ALS and risk factors including OCP levels. Results: 243 matched case-control pairs (61.7% male, mean [SD] age = 62.9 [10.1]) were included. Fifteen of the 29 OCPs examined had sufficient detectable levels for analysis. Modest correlations of self-reported years of exposure to residential pesticide mixtures and OCP serum levels were found (p<.001). Moreover, occupational exposure to lead including soldering and welding with lead/metal dust and use of lead paint/gasoline were significantly related to ALS risk (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.11-2.83). Avocational gardening was a significant risk factor for ALS (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.04-2.37). ALS risk increased for each 10 ng/g of α-Endosulfan (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.14-1.77) and oxychlordane (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01-1.53). Heptachlor (detectable vs. nondetectable) was also associated with ALS risk (OR = 3.57, 95% CI: 1.50-8.52). Conclusion: This national case-control study revealed both survey and serum levels of OCPs as risk factors for ALS. Despite the United States banning many OCPs in the 1970s and 1980s, their use abroad and long half-lives continue to exert possible neurotoxic health effects.

Biomonitoring of organochlorine pesticides and cancer survival: a population-based study.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that even at very low levels can cause cancer by increasing the activity of tumor cells and suppressing the immune system. There is also little information on OCPs and survival after diagnosis. The aim of this study was to monitor the concentration of OCPs in the blood serum of cancer patients and its relationship with their socio-demographic characteristics and ultimately that impact on survival time and hazard ratio (HR). This cross-sectional study included 89 diagnosed patients with cancer in Isfahan, Iran. 12 types of OCPs were measured in serum by gas chromatography (7GC) with an electron capture detector and equipped with mass spectrometer (MS). Also, participants' questionnaire was completed to collect information. T-test, ANOVA, and Chi-square tests were used to evaluate the association between serum levels of OCPs and quantitative and qualitative information of patients. Survival analysis was also examined based on Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox model. The mean of total OCPs in patients' serum was calculated to be 1.82 ± 1.36μg/L. Concentration of 2,4' DDE had a significant relationship with body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) (P < 0.05). In addition, gender revealed a significant correlation in estimating survival time (P < 0.05). Non-exposure to OCPs showed a positive effect on increasing the life expectancy of patients. Lindane and endosulfan increased the risk of death by 16% and 37%, respectively, with insignificant P value (P > 0.05). The findings of the present study showed adverse effects of OCPs on patients' survival time and increased mortality of HR. Moreover, as the first research conducted in the study area, it is suggested management of environmental, individual and social factors that could be influenced the biological accumulation of OCPs in humans and cause health promotion.

Analysis of serum levels of organochlorine pesticides and related factors in Parkinson’s disease

BackgroundThere is evidence that environmental factors contribute to the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Pesticides are a class of environmental toxins that are linked to increased risk of developing PD. However, few studies have investigated the association between specific pesticides and PD, especially in China, which was one of the first countries to adopt the use of pesticides. MethodsIn this study, serum levels of 19 pesticides were measured in 90 patients with PD and 90 healthy spouse controls. We also analyzed the interaction between specific pesticides and PD. In addition, the association between pesticides and clinical features of PD was also investigated. Finally, we investigated the underlying mechanism of the association between pesticides and PD. ResultsSerum levels of organochlorine pesticides, which included α-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH, propanil, heptachlor, dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene, p,p’-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and o,p’-dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane were higher in PD patients than controls. Moreover, α-HCH and propanil levels were associated with PD. Serum levels of dieldrin were associated with Hamilton Depression Scale and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores in PD patients. In SH-SY5Y cells, α-HCH and propanil increased level of reactive oxygen species and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, propanil, but not α-HCH, induced the aggregation of α-synuclein. ConclusionsThis study revealed that elevated serum levels of α-HCH and propanil were associated with PD. Serum levels of dieldrin were associated with depression and cognitive function in PD patients. Moreover, propanil, but not α-HCH, induced the aggregation of α-synuclein. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the effects of pesticides on PD.

Pesticide exposure and related health problems among farmworkers' children: a case-control study in southeast Iran.

Pesticides are potentially hazardous chemicals that can cause injury to human health and the environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) exposure in farmworkers' children aged 6 to 11years in Jiroft city in southeastern Iran. One hundred twenty farmworkers' children as case and 53 non-farmworkers' children aged 6 to 11years as control were selected and the serum levels of OCPs were measured by using gas chromatography in all participants. In addition, erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and arylesterase activity of paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) were measured to evaluate OPPs effects. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase3 (SOD3), glutathione peroxidase (GPx3) activities, and the levels of serum malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), nitric oxide (NO), and protein carbonyl (PC) were measured to investigate OCPs and OPPs effects on oxidative stress (OS). The serum levels of beta-HCH, 4,4 DDE, and 4,4 DDT in the case group were significantly higher than the control group. In addition, in the case group, AChE, PON-1, CAT, SOD3, and GPx3 activities and the levels TAC were significantly lower, while MDA, PC, and NO levels were significantly higher than the control group. OCPs as illegal pesticides are present in southeast Iran and children are exposed to OCPs and OPPs in the studied area. In addition, higher serum levels of pesticides may be a major contributor in OS development, as a cause of many diseases.

Environmental exposure to organochlorine pesticides and its association with the risk of hearing loss in the Chinese adult population: A case-control study

Hearing loss is a common chronic sensory deficit that has become a major public health concern worldwide. Hearing loss is well documented to be induced by noise and ototoxic drugs, and the association of hearing loss with environmental pollutants has received increasing attention. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are an important group of environmental pollutants that exist ubiquitously in the human body and continue to represent a significant environmental health concern. Our case-control study was performed to explore the association between serum levels of OCPs and the risk of hearing loss in China, including 87 case-control pairs. Serum concentrations of 15 OCPs were measured. Pearson's correlation analysis and principal component analysis of frequently detected (>80%) OCPs showed a different distribution pattern, indicating possible exposure sources/scenarios for the case-control adult population. A higher α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH) level was a risk factor for an increased prevalence of hearing loss. The risk of hearing loss was increased by approximately 5.25-fold in the highest tertile compared with the lowest tertile. Furthermore, a significant association of the α-HCH level with an increased hearing threshold was observed at mid/high frequencies. This study provided the first evidence indicating that exposure to α-HCH might be a potential risk factor for hearing loss.

Association Between Leukocyte Telomere Length and Serum Concentrations of PCBs and Organochlorine Pesticides.

Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) through food, water, and air occurred during the life, which may change telomere length (TL) in peripheral blood leukocytes. The present study was designed to investigate the association between TL and serum levels of PCBs and OCPs in Tehran male's population. Whole blood samples were randomly taken from 300 adult males, aged between 25 and 40years. TL was determined by real-time PCR to measure the number of the telomere (T) repeats to the number of a single-copy gene (S). We applied the multivariate linear regression model to compare the effect of each lipid adjusted serum levels of PCBs and OCPs congener on the TL, with adjustment for age, body mass index, education, smoking, and food patterns. Each doubling of the nondioxin-like PCBs, dioxin-like PCBs, and OCPs levels were associated with 1.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) - 0.70 to 5.40%], 2.5% (95% CI 0.30-8.3%), and - 2.4% (95% CI - 0.70 to - 6.2%) variation in the TL, respectively. The percent difference in the TL with exposure to nondioxin-like PCBs, dioxin-like PCBs, and OCPs for participants with older than age 37years were 6.45% (95% CI 2.81-16.50%), 4.52% (95% CI 1.60-10.54%), and - 7.44% (95% CI - 1.55 to - 15.51%), respectively. Exposures to nondioxin-like PCBs (except for PCB 28 and 52) with high chlorine in structure and dioxin-like PCBs were related to longer TLs. Conversely, serum levels of OCPs can be associated with oxidative stress and systemic inflammation that lead to telomere shortening.

RETRACTED: A survey of the secondary exposure to organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides and the impact of preventive factors in female villagers

Organophosphates (OPs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are two main types of pesticides that are widely used worldwide, and their toxicities have been reported in high-risk individuals, such as farmers and their wives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of mentioned pesticides in farmers' wives (FWs) and compare them with the control group; we also aimed to assess the effect of personal health factors on the biochemical parameters. This case-control study was conducted on two FWs and control groups, consisting of 124 and 62 individuals, respectively. Serum levels of OCPs were measured using gas chromatography (GC) method. In addition, the activity of acetylcholine esterase (AChE), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated in all participants. Additionally, the observance of personal health guidelines was assessed. Serum levels of OCPs in the FWs group were significantly higher than the controls. In addition, AChE activity in FWs was significantly lower than the controls. Moreover, it was found that higher levels of education lead to a better observation of most individual health guidelines, which results in reducing the biological adverse effects of pesticides. The results of this study indicated that the use of OCPs, as an illegal pesticide with known toxic and carcinogenic effects, has spread to southern Iran, which may have biological toxic effects. Also, observing the personal health points significantly reduced these complications and it is, therefore, recommended that more attention should be paid to this issue.

Serum levels of Organochlorine Pesticides and Breast Cancer Risk in Iranian Women

Breast cancer is a multifactorial disease and its etiology is linked to multiple risk factors. There are shreds of controversial evidence that exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are important in the etiology of breast cancer. The present study aimed to determine the circulating levels of OCPs in patients with breast tumors in Southeastern of Iran. This case-control study included 27 patients with malignant breast tumors (MBT), 31 patients with benign breast tumors (BBT), and 27 healthy women as a control group. Serum OCPs levels, including α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), β-HCH, γ-HCH, 2,4-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (2,4-DDT), 4,4-DDT, 2,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (2,4-DDE), and 4,4-DDE, were measured using gas chromatography. Our data revealed significantly higher concentrations of 2,4-DDT in MBT and BBT groups compared with control ones (P < 0.001 for both comparisons). Patients with breast cancer suffered significantly higher accumulation levels of 4,4-DDE compared with control subjects (P = 0.04). Significant correlations were found among organochlorine compounds with each other in both patients' groups. There was a significant positive correlation between body mass index and serum levels of 2,4-DDT in BBT group (r = 0.407, P = 0.02). The present findings suggest that the serum levels of 4,4-DDE and 2,4-DDT are associated with an increasein the risk of breast cancer in Southeasternwomen of Iran.

Pre-diagnostic serum concentrations of organochlorines and risk of acute myeloid leukemia: A nested case-control study in the Norwegian Janus Serum Bank Cohort

BackgroundEpidemiologic studies suggest an increased risk of leukemia among individuals occupationally exposed to some organochlorine (OC) compounds. Associations between serum OC pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels and risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most common subtype of acute leukemia in adult populations, have not been evaluated prospectively in the general population. ObjectiveWe evaluated the risk of AML in relation to pre-diagnostic serum levels of OC pesticides and PCBs in a case-control study nested within the Janus Serum Bank Cohort. MethodsJanus is a large population-based cohort containing biologic samples collected beginning in the early 1970s from ~318,000 individuals in Norway. Serum levels of 11 OC pesticides or their metabolites and 34 PCB congeners were measured in 56 AML cases and 288 controls. Conditional logistic regression was conducted to evaluate associations between lipid-adjusted serum OC levels and risk of AML. ResultsHigher serum levels of total chlordane/heptachlor metabolites were associated with AML risk (3rd vs. 1st tertile odds ratio (OR) = 2.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.91–5.63; ptrend = 0.11). Significant exposure-response associations were observed for levels of heptachlor epoxide (3rd vs. 1st tertile OR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.05–7.73; ptrend = 0.02) and dieldrin (3rd vs. 1st tertile OR = 2.71, 95% CI = 1.07–6.83; ptrend = 0.03). No significant exposure-response associations with AML risk were observed for total DDT or individual isomers and derivatives. Higher serum levels of p,p′-DDT showed a non-significant increase in risk, but the exposure-response became attenuated when co-adjusting for heptachlor epoxide or dieldrin levels. Serum PCB levels were not significantly associated with AML risk. ConclusionsOur data suggest that higher serum levels of dieldrin and metabolites derived from chlordane/heptachlor are associated with risk of AML in the general Norwegian population, based on samples collected on average ~17 years before diagnosis. Further research in populations with historically high or recent exposure to DDT is warranted to assess the association with AML risk with body burden of specific DDT isomers and derivatives.

Determinants of serum organochlorine pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl levels in middle-aged Korean adults.

The serum levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in a middle-aged Korean population and investigated associations with age, gender, body mass index (BMI), metabolic syndrome (MS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and dietary habits. The median concentrations of 22 OCPs and 34 PCBs in the serum samples were 483 and 216ngg-1 lipid, respectively. The most abundant compound was p,p'-DDE, followed by PCB 153, β-HCH, PCB 118, and PCB 180. The results of multiple linear regression and other statistical analyses revealed that serum OCP and PCB levels were higher in women and were positively correlated with age. BMI was positively associated with serum OCP and PCB levels, reflecting the influence of food intake and the preserving effect of body fat. MS and T2DM were significantly associated with serum OCP and PCB levels. The intake of animal foods had positive associations with serum OCP and PCB levels, whereas the intake of phytogenic foods showed negative associations, presumably because of contamination levels in food items and food matrices that governs absorption and excretion of OCPs and PCBs in the body. The relationship between dietary habits and serum OCP and PCB levels were different in participants with MS compared to healthy participants, suggesting MS may alter the influence of food intake on serum OCP and PCB levels.

Serum levels of organochlorine pesticides in blood donors: A biomonitoring survey in the North of Brazil, 2010–2011

Data on exposure to organochlorine (OC) pesticides in the Brazilian population are lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of serum levels of OC pesticides in Brazilian blood donors and to determine factors potentially influencing exposure levels. To conduct this biomonitoring survey, blood samples were collected from blood donors attending the Hematherapic Unit in Rio Branco, North of Brazil, in 2010–2011. A total of 1183 (99%) subjects answered to a questionnaire including information on sociodemographics, lifestyle, and dietary habits. Twenty four OC pesticides were measured in serum samples from 978 donors (82%). Associations of OC pesticide serum levels and the number of OCs detected per donor with their potential predictors were explored by logistic and Poisson regression, respectively. Of the 24 OC pesticides analyzed, the highest prevalence was observed for p,p′-dichlorodiphenylethane (p,p′-DDE) (32%), followed by lindane (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane) (20%), heptachlor (16%), and p,p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p′-DDT) (13%). 95th percentiles of levels of these four OC pesticides were: 3.85ng/mL (p,p′-DDE) (median<0.09ng/mL), 0.09ng/mL (lindane) (median<0.04ng/mL), 0.23ng/mL (heptachlor) (median<0.09ng/mL), and 0.27ng/mL (p,p′-DDT) (median<0.02ng/mL). Factors significantly associated with a more frequent detection of OC pesticides included age, gender, education, and frequency of fish, manioc flour, açai pulp, and Brazil nuts intake. Major predictors of the number of OC pesticides detected were age, marital status, income, education, and frequency of consumption of manioc flour, açai pulp, and Brazil nuts. For the first time in Brazil, a biomonitoring study has assessed the internal doses of OC pesticides in a large sample of the adult population and potential exposure determinants. Except for lindane, which was permitted for use as a wood preservative until 2007 in Brazil, occurrence of OC pesticides was lower than or in the same range as those observed in other countries.

Serum levels of organochlorine pesticides in the general population of Thessaly, Greece, determined by HS-SPME GC–MS method

In this study, exposure levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCs) were determined in general population residing in Larissa, central Greece. Serum samples from 103 volunteers were analyzed by optimized headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, to detect and quantify OC levels. The most frequently detected analytes were p,p′–DDE (frequency 99%, median:1.25ng/ml) and Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) (frequency 69%, median: 0.13ng/ml). Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship of p,p′–DDE and HCB levels with age.

Organochlorine Pesticides Exposure and Bladder Cancer: Evaluation from a Gene-Environment Perspective in a Hospital-Based Case-Control Study in the Canary Islands (Spain)

ABSTRACTThe incidence of bladder cancer has increased significantly since the 1950s. Pesticide exposure has been linked with increasing bladder cancer incidence, although the evidence is inconclusive. However, most epidemiological studies did not evaluate the potential role played by the organochlorine pesticides, the most widely used pesticides in Western countries from the 1940s to the 1970s. Organochlorine pesticides were banned in the late 1970s because of their persistence in the environment and their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. Organochlorine pesticides were employed in huge amounts in the Spanish archipelago of the Canary Islands; the authors, therefore, evaluated the role played by organochlorine pesticides exposure on bladder cancer. Serum levels of the most prevalent organochlorine pesticides used in the agriculture of these Islands (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane [p,p’-DDT], and its metabolites dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [p,p’-DDE] and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane [p,p’-DDD], hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, cis-chlordane, trans-chlordane, α- and β-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, methoxychlor, and mirex) were measured in 140 bladder cancer cases and 206 controls. GST-M1 and GST-T1 gene polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods. These results showed that serum levels of organochlorine pesticides did not increase bladder cancer risk. On the contrary, total burden of hexachlorocyclohexanes was found to be negatively associated to bladder cancer (odds ratio [OR] = 0.929, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.865–0.997; P = .041). This effect disappeared when the distribution of the gluthathione S-transferase polymorphisms was introduced in the statistical model. These results indicate that organochlorine pesticides are not a risk factor for bladder cancer. However, these findings provide additional evidence of gene-environment interactions for organochlorine pesticides and bladder cancer and reinforce the relevance of genes encoding xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in bladder cancer.

Organochlorine pesticide levels in maternal serum and risk of neural tube defects in offspring in Shanxi Province, China: A case–control study

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in placental tissue have been reported to be associated with an increased risk for fetal neural tube defects (NTDs). Our case–control study was performed to explore the association between maternal serum OCP concentration and NTD risk in offspring. Serum samples were collected from 117 mothers who delivered NTD infants (case group) and 121 mothers who delivered healthy infants (control group). Only three of the 25 OCPs were detected in more than half of the maternal serum samples. The median concentration of total OCPs in the case group was significantly higher than that of the control group. However, no dose–response relationships between higher levels of any individual OCPs or total OCPs and the risk of NTDs or subtypes were observed in either the unadjusted binary unconditional logistic regression model or the model adjusted by potential confounders. We conclude that no clear association between maternal serum OCP residues and NTD risk in offspring was observed in this population. CapsuleNo clear association between maternal serum levels of organochlorine pesticides and risk of neural tube defects in offspring was observed for a Chinese population.

Association between serum levels of organochlorine pesticides and sex hormones in adults living in a heavily contaminated area in Brazil

Several studies have investigated the effects of organochlorine (OC) pesticides on adverse reproductive outcomes. However, few previous studies explored their effects on sex hormones. To examine the association between serum concentrations of OC pesticides and levels of sex hormones in adult population in a rural area in Brazil heavily contaminated with these pesticides. A cross-sectional study with 304 men and 300 women was undertaken. Wet weight serum concentrations of 19 OC pesticides (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane [DDT] and hexachlorocyclohexane [HCH], among others) were determined in all participants. Testosterone levels were obtained for men and estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) for women. Associations between OC pesticides and sex hormones were evaluated using linear regression models. Prevalence of women with non-physiological hyperprolactinemia was 4%. After adjusting for serum lipids and confounders, heptachlor and o,p'-DDT concentrations in men were associated with lower testosterone levels, while peri- and postmenopausal women (N=77) showed inverse associations between LH and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD (dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethane), endosulfan 1 and 2, aldrin and mirex, as well as between FSH and p,p'-DDD, endosulfan 1 and aldrin. Premenopausal women (N=210) did not show statistically significant associations between OC pesticides and sex hormones. Inverse associations between OC pesticide concentrations and testosterone in men and LH and FSH in peri-/postmenopausal women, together with the high proportion of women with elevated prolactin, suggest that these OC compounds may have triggered anti-androgenic effects in men and estrogenic effects in women in this population.

Potential role for organochlorine pesticides in the prevalence of peripheral arterial diseases in obese persons: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2004

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate the association between organochlorine (OC) pesticides and the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Methods and resultsThis study included 2032 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2004), in which the ankle brachial index (ABI) and serum levels of OC pesticides (p,p′-DDE, trans-nonachlor, oxychlordane, dieldrin, and β-HCH) were measured simultaneously. A diagnosis of PAD was determined on the basis of an ABI<0.9. The obesity status was categorized as obese group (BMI≥25kg/m2) or non-obese group (BMI<25kg/m2). Compared with subjects without PAD, those with PAD had significantly higher lipid-standardized and wet-weight concentrations of OC pesticides. Obese subjects with PAD had significantly increased mean lipid-standardization value of p,p′-DDE (OR=1.47; 95% CI, 1.08–1.99), trans-nonachlor (OR=1.68; 95% CI, 1.10–2.56), oxychlordane (OR=1.82; 95% CI, 1.09–3.03), dieldrin (OR=2.36; 95% CI, 1.69–3.31), and sums of all five pesticides (OR=1.19; 95% CI, 1.07–1.33). For non-obese group, increases in the levels of OC pesticides and their sums did not account for increased risk ratio of PAD. ConclusionOC pesticides are a potent risk factor for PAD. Additionally, obesity may modulate the association between OC pesticides and the development of PAD.

Organochlorines in Chinese Women: Determinants of Serum Concentrations

People are frequently exposed to various environmental chemicals such as organic pollutants, heavy metals, etc. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to investigate the accumulation level of organochlorines in women from Qiqihaer city in china. Of the 160 people investigated, 113 sujects were detected with different serum levels of organochlorine pesticides (range: 0.042 - 33.072 μg/L). Moreover, the results indicated that there was high serum level of accumulated organochlorines pesticides of women in Chinese, and the serum concentrations of organochlorines pesticides was associated with age.

Serum levels of organochlorine pesticides in healthy adults from five regions of Spain

The aim of this study was to measure of serum levels of p,p′-dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane ( p,p′-DDT), p,p′-dichlorodiphenyl dichlorethylene ( p,p′-DDE), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in healthy adults in Spain. Furthermore, we also analyzed these levels according to dietary, other lifestyle factors and anthropometric characteristics. We measured the concentrations of such organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in serum samples collected during 1992–1996 from 953 subjects aged 35–64 years, they were residents of five Spanish regions, they were randomly selected from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. OCPs were determined by means of gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). The most frequent compound found in serum was p,p′-DDE, present in 98% of the samples, followed by HCB and β-HCH, found in 89% and 77% of samples, respectively, while p,p′-DDT could be measured only in 26% of subjects. The geometric means of serum concentrations (ng/g lipid) were 822 for p,p′-DDE, 167 for β-HCH, and 379 for HCB. The concentrations of all OCPs were positively associated with age and body mass index, and decreased along the period of blood collection. No association was found between OCPs levels and dietary factors. The concentrations of p,p′-DDE and β-HCB were higher in Murcia, one of southern regions, most likely associated with intensive past use of pesticides related to agricultural practices, while higher levels of HCB were found in Navarra, located in the north, maybe due to industrial use rather than agricultural application.

Prevalence of Self-Reported Diabetes and Exposure to Organochlorine Pesticides among Mexican Americans: Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1982–1984

BackgroundThe prevalence of diabetes is higher among Mexican Americans than among non-Hispanic whites. Higher serum levels of organochlorine pesticides in Mexican Americans have been reported. Few studies have explored the association between pesticide exposure and diabetes.ObjectivesWe set out to examine the association between self-reported diabetes and serum concentrations of organochlorine pesticides among Mexican Americans residing in the southwestern United States from 1982 to 1984.MethodsThis study was conducted among a sample of 1,303 Mexican Americans 20–74 years of age from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Serum concentrations were available for seven pesticides or pesticide metabolites at quantifiable levels in at least 1% of the study population: p,p′-DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), p,p′-DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloro-ethylene), dieldrin, oxychlordane, β-hexachlorocyclohexane, hexachlorobenzene, and trans-nonachlor. We used logistic regression to evaluate the association of self-reported diabetes with exposure to organochlorine pesticides, with and without adjustment for total serum lipids. Nonfasting serum glucose values were compared among exposure groups.ResultsSelf-reported diabetes was significantly associated with serum levels above the detectable limit for trans-nonachlor, oxychlordane, and β-hexachlorocyclohexane and among those with the highest level of exposure to p,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDE. On adjustment for total serum lipids, the association with p,p′-DDT remained significant. Serum glucose levels were elevated among those exposed to trans-nonachlor and β-hexachlorocyclohexane.ConclusionThis study suggests that higher serum levels of certain organochlorine pesticides may be associated with increased prevalence of diabetes. Additional studies with more extensive clinical assessment are needed to confirm this association.

Inadvertent exposure to organochlorine pesticides DDT and derivatives in people from the Canary Islands (Spain)

In 1998, one of the largest determinations of organochlorine pesticides in a representative sample of a Spanish population (682 serum samples from the Canary Islands) was made in the context of the “Canary Islands Nutrition Survey” (ENCA). In the Canary Islands, extensive farming areas have been developed in these last decades, with greenhouses dedicated to intensive cultivation using DDT in huge amounts. In Spain, similarly to other European countries, DDT was banned in the late 1970s. The pesticide residues in human serum are indicative of past and present exposure to them. Our objective is to point out the differences of pesticide contamination between islands; and together with this, if a connection could be established with gender, age, or habitat of subjects. Concentration of selected persistent organochlorine pollutants ( p, p′-DDT, o, p′-DDT, p, p′-DDE, o, p′-DDE, p, p′-DDD, and o, p′-DDD) was measured with gas chromatography-electron capture detector. Almost all of the samples (99.3%) presented detectable levels of some DDT-derivatives, being p, p′-DDE the most frequently detected organochlorine. The median concentration of total DDT body burden, expressed in ng/g fat, present in the Canary Islands (370 ng/g fat) was similar to that found in other European countries, although it was noteworthy that a fourth of the population showed a total DDT body burden higher than 715 ng/g. Interestingly, statistical significant differences were found in serum levels of organochlorine pesticides between islands, being these levels higher in people from Tenerife and Gran Canaria (415 and 612 ng/g fat, respectively), the islands that present both highest population and highest surface devoted to intensive agriculture. As expected, serum levels of both total DDT body burden and p, p′-DDE increased with age. Statistically significant differences were also found in relation to gender, women showing higher levels of these organochlorine pesticides than men. One of the most relevant findings of this work is the presence of a very high DDT/DDE ratio in people from the Canary Islands, thus indicating a chronic exposure to DDT that persists nowadays. DDT and its derivatives are considered as xenoestrogens, and they have been linked to breast cancer. Having into account that the Canary Islands present high incidence and mortality for breast cancer, our results point to the possibility that these environmental contaminants may be playing a determining role that must be investigated in detail. The high levels of DDT and its derivatives in serum from people living in this Archipelago should be considered a matter of public health concern.