ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was quantify organochlorine compounds in women seeking for infertility treatment (n = 15) and in spontaneously pregnant ones (n = 21). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was applied regarding lifestyle, occupational and reproductive history. Blood samples were collected from both groups. RESULTS: From the pesticides studied, pp'DDE was detected in 100% of infertile women, at higher mean levels than in pregnant women (3.02 mcg/L vs. 0.88 mcg/L; p = 0.001; power of 69%), without correlation with the etiology of infertility. Levels of the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were low, with positive samples in 100% in the infertile women for PCBs 138, 153, 180, while in pregnant women, they were 85.7% for congeners 138 and 153. Only PCB180 showed significance, with frequency of 71.4% (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for female infertility were: age, consumption of untreated water and of canned foods. Exposure to the most prevalent organochlorine compounds described in literature was confirmed in the study, indicating that pp'DDE may adversely influence female fertility.
Subject(s)
Cholinesterase Reactivators/blood , Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/blood , Infertility, Female/blood , Polychlorinated Biphenyls/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Birth Rate/trends , Brazil , Chi-Square Distribution , Female , Food, Preserved/analysis , Humans , Infertility, Female/chemically induced , Life Style , Pregnancy , Risk Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Urban Population/statistics & numerical data , Water Quality , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was quantify organochlorine compounds in women seeking for infertility treatment (n = 15) and in spontaneously pregnant ones (n = 21). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was applied regarding lifestyle, occupational and reproductive history. Blood samples were collected from both groups. RESULTS: From the pesticides studied, pp'DDE was detected in 100% of infertile women, at higher mean levels than in pregnant women (3.02 mcg/L vs. 0.88 mcg/L; p = 0.001; power of 69%), without correlation with the etiology of infertility. Levels of the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were low, with positive samples in 100% in the infertile women for PCBs 138, 153, 180, while in pregnant women, they were 85.7% for congeners 138 and 153. Only PCB180 showed significance, with frequency of 71.4% (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for female infertility were: age, consumption of untreated water and of canned foods. Exposure to the most prevalent organochlorine compounds described in literature was confirmed in the study, indicating that pp'DDE may adversely influence female fertility.
OBJETIVO: O estudo teve como objetivo quantificar as substâncias organocloradas em mulheres buscando tratamento para infertilidade (n = 15) e que espontaneamente engravidaram (n = 21). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foi aplicado questionário considerando estilo de vida, história ocupacional e reprodutiva. Amostras de sangue foram obtidas em ambos os grupos. RESULTADOS: Dos pesticidas, pp'DDE foi detectado em 100% das inférteis, com níveis maiores que nas grávidas (3,02 mcg/L vs. 0,88 mcg/L; p = 0,001; poder 69%), sem correlação na etiologia da infertilidade. Os níveis de detecção das bifenilas policloradas (PCBs) foram baixos, com 100% de positividade das amostras nas inférteis para os PCBs 138, 153, 180, e de 85,7% nas grávidas para os congêneres 138 e 153. Apenas PCB180 mostrou significância na frequência de 71,4% (p = 0,019). CONCLUSÕES: Os fatores de risco para infertilidade feminina foram: idade, consumo de água não tratada e alimentos enlatados. A exposição aos organoclorados mais prevalentes descritos na literatura foi confirmada no estudo, indicando que pp'DDE pode influenciar adversamente a fertilidade feminina.