Exposure to p,p´-DDE during early pregnancy, anthropometry, and gestational age at birth, in a flower-growing region of Mexico.

Prenatal exposure to dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p´-DDE) may interfere with fetal development; however, studies evaluating anthropometry and gestational age at birth show inconsistent results. Typically, p,p´-DDE exposure has been measured during the third trimester and missed the key early pregnancy period. We evaluated the association between p,p´-DDE exposure before week 18 of pregnancy and anthropometry at birth, as well as gestational length, in 170 mother-child pairs from a cohort study in a flower-growing mexican region. Maternal serum p,p´-DDE concentrations were determined by gas chromatography. The associations between p,p´-DDE and z-scores of birth weight, birth length, and gestational age were evaluated by linear multiple regression models. Logistic regression models were used for low birth weight and small size for gestational age. Effect modification by child's sex was explored. The average gestational age at the blood sample extraction was 10.6 weeks. p,p'-DDE was detected in 64.7% of mothers, at a geometric mean of 0.24 ng/mL. Prenatal p,p´-DDE exposure was not associated with the birth outcomes in the whole sample. However, a high p,p´-DDE exposure was marginally associated with greater small for gestational age risk in male newborns (OR≥0.076ng/mL vs <0.076 ng/mL = 3.09, 95% CI: 0.61; 15.58), but not in female (p for interaction = 0.08).Even though, we found no reductions in anthropometric measurements or gestational length associated with early prenatal p,p´-DDE exposure, the potential effect modification by infant's sex in terms of small for the gestational age risk deserves future studies.

Exploring the association of organochlorine pesticides exposure and hearing impairment in United States adults.

Hearing loss (HL) is a highly prevalent public health concern. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are widely used environmental pollutants harmful to human health. Studies investigating the effects of OCPs exposure on the auditory system in the general population are rare. To explore the association between OCPs exposure and HL in adults, 366 adults aged 20-69 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2003-2004) were investigated. HL was defined as a pure-tone average (PTA) ≥ 20 dB in the better ear. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the association of four selected serum OCPs with PTAs and the risk of HL. In participants aged < 60 years, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p, p'-DDE) exposure was positively associated with low- and speech-frequency PTAs, and with low-frequency HL, respectively. Risk of HL increased in the highest tertile compared with the lowest tertile of serum HCB and p, p'-DDE (odds ratio [OR]: 4.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97-19.80; OR: 16.66, 95% CI: 2.64-105.09, respectively). In this study of US adults aged < 60 years, HCB and p, p'-DDE exposure was positively associated with HL. HCB and p, p'-DDE may be potential risk factors for HL.

Sex, menopause, and age differences in the associations of persistent organic pollutants with thyroid hormones, thyroxine-binding globulin, and peripheral deiodinase activity: A cross-sectional study of the general Korean adult population.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can disrupt the thyroid hormone system in humans. We assessed the associations of several POPs with serum thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone, and investigated the modulating effects of sex, menopausal status, and age on these associations, in a subgroup of the adult population (n = 1250) from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey. PCB105 and PCB118 were negatively associated with total T4 in premenopausal females and males aged <50, whereas the associations were insignificant in other groups. PCB180, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDT showed positive associations with total T3 in postmenopausal females; however, among males aged ≥50, PCB118, PCB138, and p,p'-DDE showed negative associations with total T3. The effects of exposure to multiple POPs were examined in multi-factor analyses. Factor 2 comprised PCB52, hexachlorobenzene, and BDE-47 was associated with an increase in free T4 in premenopausal females (ß = 0.015, p = 0.024), while Factor 1, which contained most POPs, was associated with a change in total T3 in postmenopausal females (ß = 0.032, p = 0.040) and males aged ≥50 (ß = -0.039, p = 0.023). Changes in total T4 or total T3 could be explained by differences in thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) and peripheral deiodinase activity (GD). Negative associations of TBG with PCB105 in premenopausal females and PCB153 in males aged <50 may mediate the effect of decreasing total T4. PCB180, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, and Factor 1 were positively associated with GD, which is consistent with an increased total T3 in postmenopausal females. PCB118 was negatively associated with GD and total T3 in males aged ≥50. BDE-47 and ß-hexachlorocyclohexane were associated with thyroid autoantibodies in premenopausal females and males aged <50. Our observations suggest that the thyroid-disrupting effects of POPs may differ by sex, sex hormonal status, and age, and may be mediated by TBG and GD.

Sex specific associations between in utero exposure to persistent organic pollutants and allergy-related outcomes in childhood: The Rhea Mother-Child Cohort (Crete, Greece).

Accumulating evidence suggests that in utero exposures can influence the development of the immune system. Few studies have investigated whether prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is associated with allergy-related phenotypes in childhood, nor explored sex differences. We examined the association between prenatal exposure to POPs and offspring allergic outcomes in early and mid-childhood. We included 682 mother-child pairs from the prospective birth cohort Rhea. We measured dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and 6 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in maternal first trimester serum. Parents completed the questionnaires adapted from the International Study on Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC) for allergy-related phenotypes when their children were 4 and 6 years old. We used Poisson regression models to estimate Risk Ratios. Prenatal HCB was associated with increased risk for rhinoconjunctivitis at 6 years (RR (95% CI): 2.5; (1.3, 4.8) for a doubling in the exposure). Among girls, prenatal DDE was associated with increased risk for current wheeze, current asthma and current rhinoconjunctivitis at 4 years (RR (95%CI): 1.4 (0.8, 2.6), 1.6 (1.1, 2.4) and 1.8 (1.0, 3.3) and p-interaction = 0.035, 0.027 and 0.059, respectively), with increased risk for current rhinoconjunctivitis at 6 years (RR (95%CI): 1.7 (0.7, 3.8) and p-interaction = 0.028) and total PCBs were associated with increased risk for current eczema at 4 years (RR (95%CI): 2.1 (1.1, 4.2) and p-interaction = 0.028). In boys, prenatal DDE was associated with decreased risk for current wheeze and current asthma at 4 years. Our findings suggest that even low levels of exposure to POPs prenatally may affect the development of childhood allergy-related outcomes in a sex and age-specific manner.

Persistent organic pollutants in pregnant women potentially affect child development and thyroid hormone status.

BACKGROUND: Potentially harmful effects of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) on prenatal development and the endocrine system have been controversially discussed. METHODS: Working with a German cohort of 324 pregnant women, we assessed POP levels and used robust linear regression models to determine potential associations between maternal POP concentrations and pre- and postnatal development in the children, as well as the thyroid hormone status of the mother and child. RESULTS: Maternal p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) and most measured PCBs positively correlated with postnatal weight gain. We detected no correlation between newborn birth weight and head circumference, respectively, and maternal PCB and p,p'-DDE serum levels, while body length at birth was negatively associated with the maternal serum concentration of PCB 183. Maternal p,p'-DDE and nearly all PCB serum levels showed a negative correlation with maternal free triiodothyronine (FT3). p,p'-DDE and PCB 74 and 118 were negatively associated with maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. In addition, we identified significant associations between maternal POP levels and thyroid hormone parameters of the child. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that POP exposure likely affects different aspects of pre- and postnatal development and impacts the thyroid hormone status of both mother and child. IMPACT: Pregnant women in a German cohort display a substantial accumulation of POPs. Body mass index and age influence maternal serum POP levels. Maternal POP levels show correlations with the child's length at birth and weight gain, and FT3 levels in the mother and child. Our data provide additional evidence for the potentially harmful influence of POPs. Our data indicate that POPs influence pre- and postnatal development.

Exposure to organochlorine pesticides as a predictor to breast cancer: A case-control study among Ethiopian women.

Breast cancer (BC) is becoming one of the most prevalent non-infectious disease in low and middle income countries. The steady rise of BC incidence may be related to the different risk factors. Among many, rampant presence of environmental pollutants might be one of the risk factors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate exposure to organochlorine pesticides as a risk factor to breast cancer. A case-control study design was employed among breast cancer patients and non-breast cancer individuals (controls). Blood samples were collected from 100 study participants (50 cases and 50 controls) followed by serum separation, extraction and cleanup using standard analytical procdures. The findings revealed that ten organochlorine pesticides were detected in the serum of the study participants. From the detected organochlorine pesticides, heptachlor was observed at higher concentration for breast cancer patients (6.90±4.37 µg/L) and controls (9.15±3.84 µg/L). Mean serum level of p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, heptachlor, gamma-chlordane, endosulfan, and dibutyl-chlorendate were significantly higher in the serum of breast cancer patients than the controls. From the studied pesticides, p,p'-DDT and gamma-chlordane are significant predictors for BC, while, others are equivocal. A unit increment of the concentration of p,p'-DDT (AOR; 2.03, 95% CI: 1.041-3.969) increased the odds of developing breast cancer by two, while for gamma-chlordane (AOR;3.12, 95% CI; 1.186-8.203) by three. Our study results suggesting that, organochlorines are a risk factors for breast cancer in Ethiopia. Decreasing exposure to such organochlorines might have a significant public health relevance in reducing non-communicable chronic illnesses. Besides, continues monitoring of persistent organic pollutants using body biomarkers is important for disease prevention and device mitigation measures.

Association between maternal exposure to the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and risk of obesity in middle age.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a malnourishment epidemic worldwide. A meta-analysis of prospective human studies across the world demonstrated a consistent positive association between maternal exposure to the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolite dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and children with obesity. The present study evaluates the association of maternal exposure to DDT and DDE with the risk of obesity in daughters during their mid-life in a prospective birth cohort with up to 53 years of follow-up. METHODS: Gravidas' blood was collected during their 1959-1967 enrollment into the prospective Child Health and Development Studies birth cohort in California. Their daughters aged 44-53 years had their height, weight, and waist circumference measured during a home visit to evaluate associations of daughters' adiposity and relative risk of overweight and obesity with their mothers' prenatal serum levels of DDT and DDE quantified by gas chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometer (n = 511). RESULTS: Maternal o,p'-DDT was positively associated with body mass index (ß = 0.59 kg/m2 per ln ng/ml (95th percentile confidence interval, 95% CI: 0.17, 1.00)) and waist circumference (ß = 1.19 cm per ln ng/ml (95% CI: 0.26, 2.13)) in multivariable models. Maternal o,p'-DDT was positively associated with a 26% (95% CI: 6-49) to 31% (95% CI: 6-62) higher risk of overweight and the same magnitude of additional risk for obesity, based on waist circumference and BMI definitions respectively, in multivariable models. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate maternal DDT exposure is significantly associated with increased obesity risk among middle-aged women independent of the obesity definition, confounding, and obesity risk factors. Our findings suggest that policies supporting the use of DDT for malaria vector abatement need to consider the obesity risk as a health cost when weighing the benefits of using DDT in malaria vector control.

Exposure to Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and Metallothionein Levels in Rats Fed with Normocaloric or High-Fat Diet: A Review.

The growing number of studies on metallothioneins (MTs), cysteine-rich metal-binding proteins, have been disclosing new functions of these proteins. Thanks to their inducibility, they were considered to play a pivotal role in regulating trace metals homeostasis and in detoxification from heavy metals; nowadays, it is known that they are involved in various physiological and pathological processes, such as regulation of apoptosis, elimination of free radicals, and protection of nucleic acids against toxic insults. MT induction has been demonstrated following stress factors other than heavy metals, such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, insecticides, and herbicides. However, retrieved data are often controversial: in some cases, xenobiotics elicit MT expression and synthesis; under different conditions, they lead to a decrease in cellular MT content. This review describes the MT response to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) contamination in mammalian tissues. In particular, attention focuses on changes in MT expression, synthesis, and localization in rat liver, kidneys, and testes following oral administration of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), the main metabolite of DDT, under normal dietary conditions or in combination with a high fat diet potentially able to increase the cellular uptake of this lipophilic pesticide. The potential connection between MT expression and synthesis, lipophilic substances and trace metals availability is also discussed.

New insight into the mechanism of POP-induced obesity: Evidence from DDE-altered microbiota.

Although epidemiological studies demonstrate that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) could lead to metabolic syndrome, the mechanism has remained unclear. The dysbiosis of gut microbiota and the lipid metabolome have been put forward in the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome. In this study, we used dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) as an example to study the effects of POP-impaired microbial composition and metabolome homeostasis on metabolic syndrome. The results showed that DDE exposure increased body weight and fat content and impaired glucose homeostasis. Further investigation revealed that DDE induced gut dysbiosis as indicated by an increased Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio, which may impact energy harvest efficiency. Meanwhile, the plasma lipid metabolome profile was significantly altered by DDE. Furthermore, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and triacylglycerol were identified as key metabolites affected by DDE treatment, and these altered lipid metabolites were highly correlated with changed microbiota composition. This study provides novel insight into the underlying mechanism of POP-induced obesity and diabetes, pointing to gut microbiota as one of the targets.

Endocrine disrupting-chemicals and biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after prostatectomy: A cohort study in Guadeloupe (French West Indies).

Previous studies have suggested that exposure to environmental chemicals with hormonal properties, also called endocrine disrupting chemicals, may be involved in the occurrence of prostate cancer (PCa). Such exposure may also influence the treatment outcome as it is still present at the time of diagnosis, the beginning of therapy, and beyond. We followed 326 men in Guadeloupe (French West Indies) who underwent radical prostatectomy as primary treatment of localized PCa. We analyzed the relationship between exposure to the estrogenic chlordecone, the antiandrogenic dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE, the main metabolite of the insecticide DDT), and the nondioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl congener 153 (PCB-153) with mixed estrogenic/antiestrogenic properties and the risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after surgery. After a median follow-up of 6.1 years after surgery, we found a significant increase in the risk of BCR, with increasing plasma chlordecone concentration (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.51; 95% confidence interval: 1.39-4.56 for the highest vs. lowest quartile of exposure; p trend = 0.002). We found no associations for DDE or PCB-135. These results shown that exposure to environmental estrogens may negatively influence the outcome of PCa treatment.

Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants and Birth Characteristics: The Upstate KIDS Study.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may be associated with obesogenic effects in offspring. Our study is the first to investigate associations between concentrations of POPs from newborn dried blood spots (DBS) and birth characteristics. METHODS: Concentrations of 10 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ether-47 (PBDE-47), and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) were measured from DBSs collected at birth from 2,065 singleton infants. DBS samples were pooled in groups of five and assayed together to reach limits of detection. Differences in risk of large for gestational age (LGA, defined as >90th percentile of birth weight for sex and gestational age), small for gestational age (SGA, <10th), and preterm birth (gestational age <37 weeks) were estimated using logistic regression per unit (ng/ml) increase in concentration of each chemical, adjusting for individual-level covariates, including maternal age, race/ethnicity, prepregnancy BMI, education, parity, smoking, and infant sex while assuming a gamma distribution and using multiple imputation to account for pools. RESULTS: There were 215 (11.3%) singletons born LGA, 158 (7.5%) born SGA, and 157 (7.6%) born preterm. Higher concentrations of POPs were positively associated with slightly higher risk of LGA and higher birth weight. CONCLUSIONS: Relationships between POPs measured in newborn DBS and birth size were mixed. Pooled analysis methods using DBS could address challenges in limits of detection and costs for population-based research.

Metabolite of the pesticide DDT and incident type 2 diabetes in urban India.

BACKGROUND: Previous epidemiological studies, largely conducted in high-income countries and cross-sectional, have suggested a relatively strong association between exposure to dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), a metabolite of the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and type 2 diabetes. DDT is widely used in India and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes there is increasing, but the association between these factors has not been explored to date. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to estimate the association of the p,p' isomer of DDE with incident type 2 diabetes in India. METHODS: A nested case-control study was conducted in a representative prospective cohort of adults from two cities in India. Participants were enrolled in 2010-11 (n = 12,271) and followed for annual assessment of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes. Baseline plasma samples from incident cases of diabetes (n = 193) and sex-city-matched controls (n = 323) were selected for analysis of p,p-DDE. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: At baseline, cases had higher p,p-DDE concentrations: geometric mean (95% CI) 330 (273-399) ng/g lipid compared to 223 (189-262) ng/g lipid among controls. Delhi participants had higher p,p-DDE concentrations: 579 (521-643) ng/g lipid compared to 122 (102-145) ng/g lipid in Chennai. In unadjusted models, being in the highest versus lowest quartile of p,p-DDE was associated with a more than doubling of the odds of diabetes: unadjusted OR (95% CI), 2.30 (1.19, 4.43). However, this effect was no longer significant after adjustment for age: adjusted (95% CI), 0.97 (0.46, 2.06). DISCUSSION: Results suggest that levels of p,p'-DDE in Delhi are exceptionally high, but we did not observe a significant association between p,p-DDE and incident type 2 diabetes. As this is the first study to evaluate this association in India, more studies are needed to inform our understanding of the association in this context, including potential routes of exposure.

Unravelling the Effect of p,p'-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) in Hypertension of Wistar Rats.

Hypertension is a multifactorial disease with limited knowledge of the involved mechanisms. p,p'-DDE ( p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) is a pollutant commonly found in tissues that interferes with endocrine signaling. This study aimed to evaluate the mechanism of hypertension triggered by p,p'-DDE exposure in the presence or absence of a HF (high-fat) diet in rats. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) was evaluated by qPCR in liver and adipose tissue (AT), and a transcriptome analysis comparing visceral AT of HF diet and HF/DDE groups was performed. HF diet influenced RAS, but the p,p'-DDE effect was more evident in liver than in AT (interaction between the diet and p,p'-DDE treatment affected aldosterone receptor and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 expression in liver, p < 0.05, two-way ANOVA). p,p'-DDE induced a decrease in the expression of genes involved in the retinoid acid biosynthesis pathway (Crabp1; -2.07-fold; p = 0.018), eNOS activation (Nos1; -1.64-fold; p = 0.012), and regulation and urea cycle (Ass1; -2.07-fold; p = 0.02). This study suggested that p,p'-DDE may play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, not exclusively in RAS but also by induction of hyperuricemia and increased oxidative stress, which may lead to endoplasmic reticulum stress and vascular injury.

Maternal Peripartum Serum DDT/E and Urinary Pyrethroid Metabolite Concentrations and Child Infections at 2 Years in the VHEMBE Birth Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Indoor residual spraying (IRS) of insecticides, conducted in low- and middle-income countries to control malaria, may result in high exposure to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), its breakdown product dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), or pyrethroids. Animal studies suggest in utero exposure to these chemicals may increase childhood infection frequency. OBJECTIVES: We investigated associations between maternal DDT/E and pyrethroid metabolite concentration and child infection associations in an IRS setting in which susceptibility factors are common and infections are leading causes of child morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we measured serum DDT/E and urinary pyrethroid metabolite concentrations in peripartum samples from 674 women participating in the Venda Health Examination of Mother, Babies and their Environment (VHEMBE) study. Counts of persistent child fevers, otitis media, and severe sore throat between 1 and 2 y of age were ascertained from maternal interviews. Associations between DDT/E and pyrethroid metabolite concentrations and infections were estimated using zero-inflated Poisson regression. We estimated relative excess risks due to interaction (RERI) with poverty, maternal energy intake, and maternal HIV status. RESULTS: Concentrations of DDT/E, particularly p,p'-DDE, were associated with higher rates of persistent fevers [IRR=1.21 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.46)], for a 10-fold increase in p,p'-DDE). This association was stronger among children from households below versus above the South African food poverty line [IRR=1.31 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.59) vs. IRR=0.93 (95% CI: 0.69, 1.25), respectively] and for children whose mothers had insufficient versus sufficient caloric intake during pregnancy [IRR=1.30 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.58) vs. IRR=0.96 (95% CI: 0.72, 1.28), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: In utero IRS insecticide exposure may increase childhood infection rates. This was particularly apparent among children from poorer households or whose mothers had low energy intake during pregnancy. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2657.

Alterations in male reproductive hormones in relation to environmental DDT exposure.

DDT [1, 1, 1-trichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-ethane] compounds are used for indoor residual spraying (IRS) to control malaria mosquitoes. DDT is an endocrine disruptor chemical in experimental conditions, but little is known of adverse effects related to living conditions with continual uptake across a time span by all possible means of exposure. Based on estrogenic and/or anti-androgenic effects found in animal studies, we hypothesized that chronic DDT/DDE exposures in men may be associated with changes in male reproductive hormones. We tested this hypothesis by compared the magnitude and direction of associations between DDT and DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene) concentrations and male reproductive hormones in samples collected from IRS and non-IRS areas. We sampled a cross-section of 535 men (aged 18-40 years). Men living in IRS villages had significantly higher DDT and DDE concentrations compared with men from non-IRS villages. Men with DDT or DDE uptake (as reflected in detectable plasma concentrations) had significantly higher total-, free and bio-available testosterone (T), and lower follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations; lower luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations were only evident with DDT uptake. To establish a dose-dependent effect, four sub-categories were defined. Men with the highest DDT (74-519 µg/g) and DDE (173-997 µg/g) concentrations had significantly higher total-, free and bio-available T, and lower FSH concentrations compared with subjects with non-detectable isomer concentrations. Estradiol concentrations were significantly higher in men with DDT and DDE concentrations in both the third (DDE: 27-172 µg/g; DDT: 5-73 µg/g) and fourth (DDE: 173-997 µg/g; DDT: 74-519 µg/g) categories. Men from IRS villages were significantly more likely to have higher total and bioavailable T as well as higher estradiol concentrations OR = 2.5 (95% CI 1.2, 3.2); OR 2.5 (95% CI 1.6, 4.0) and OR = 2.3 (95% CI 1.3, 4.1) compared to men from non-IRS villages, after controlling for age, BMI, personal use of pesticides, and smoking. Men living in IRS villages with life-long exposure (17.6 (±6) years) at the current residence with multiple exposure modalities incurred the highest degree of physiological imbalance over and above circulating isomer concentrations. Further studies are needed to elucidate the health implications of these findings.

Veterinary utility of dried blood spots for analysis of toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Dried blood spots (DBS) on filter paper provide a simple and convenient means of collecting, storing and shipping samples for veterinary diagnostics related to toxin exposures. This paper presents validation data on analysis of DBS for chlorinated persistent organic pollutants, specifically 4,4'-dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (4,4'-DDT) and its breakdown product 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl-dichloroethylene (4,4'-DDE), lindane and a representative polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener PCB-153. Analysis was by gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD). The method required one 12.5 mm diameter spot representing application of 50 µL of blood, and working limits of detection (LOD) for each of the compounds was 5 ppb. Data are presented on development and description of the method, assay precision, LOD and quantitation, linearity, accuracy, specificity, effects of long-term storage and ruggedness. The method was also applied to 27 avian DBS, and 4,4'-DDE was detected in the majority of samples.

Secondary sex ratio in relation to exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls, dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene and methylmercury.

This study was undertaken to assess the potential impact of maternal exposures to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene (DDE) and methylmercury on the secondary sex ratios (the ratio of male to female live births) over a span of 23 years. The study includes prospective data from three Faroese birth cohorts, with a total of 2,152 healthy mother-child dyads recruited between 1986 and 2009. The Faroe Islands is a subarctic fishing community, where pilot whale meat and blubber are part of the traditional marine diet. Exposures were measured in maternal hair, serum or umbilical cord blood. Confounder adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between maternal exposures and the secondary sex ratio. A doubling in ΣPCB, p,p'-DDE and mercury concentrations were associated with increased odds by 8% (95% CI = 0-16%), 7% (95% CI = 0-14%) and 9% (95% CI = 2-17%), respectively, of giving birth to a boy. In conclusion, maternal exposure to ΣPCB, DDE and methylmercury was associated with a slightly increased secondary sex ratio. The impact of paternal exposures could not be taken into account and deserves attention.

Prenatal DDT exposure and child adiposity at age 12: The CHAMACOS study.

OBJECTIVE: Using data from the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) birth cohort study, we assessed the association of in utero exposure to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and dichlorodiphenylethylene (DDE) with child adiposity at age 12. METHODS: We included 240 children with o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDT, and p,p'-DDE concentrations measured in maternal serum collected during pregnancy (ng/g lipid) and complete 12-year follow-up data. Age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) z-scores were calculated from CDC growth charts. Children with BMI z-scores ≥ 85th percentile were classified as overweight or obese. RESULTS: At 12 years, BMI z-score averaged 1.09 (±1.03) and 55.4% of children were overweight or obese. Prenatal DDT and DDE exposure was associated with several adiposity measures in boys but not girls. Among boys, 10-fold increases in prenatal DDT and DDE concentrations were associated with increased BMI z-score (o,p'-DDT, adj-ß=0.37, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.65; p,p'-DDT, adj-ß = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.48; p,p'-DDE, adj-ß = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.59). Results for girls were nonsignificant. The difference by sex persisted after considering pubertal status. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the chemical obesogen hypothesis, that in utero exposure to DDT and DDE may increase risk of obesity in males later in life.

DDT, DDD, and DDE in soil of Xiangfen County, China: Residues, sources, spatial distribution, and health risks.

We collected and analyzed 128 surface soil samples from Xiangfen County for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE). Total DDT concentrations (DDTs; sum of p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDT) ranged from ND to 427.81 ng g(-1) (dry weight, dw), with a mean of 40.26 ng g(-1) (dw). Among the three compounds, p,p'-DDD was the most dominant. The DDTs in Xiangfen County soils mainly originated from historical DDT use, but there were also new inputs likely related to dicofol use. The DDTs in Xiangfen County soils were mainly degraded under anaerobic conditions, and direct degradation to DDD was the main degradation route. Regions with relatively high concentrations of DDTs were mainly located in North and South Xiangfen County. In these regions, many soil samples contained p,p'-DDT as the predominant pollutant, suggestive of extensive new inputs of DDT. A health risk assessment revealed that there are no serious long-term health impacts of exposure to DDTs in soil, for adults or children.

Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants and offspring allergic sensitization and lung function at 20 years of age.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposures to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been associated with asthma medication use and self-reported symptoms, but associations with lung function and allergic sensitization have been minimally explored. The aim of the study was to examine the associations between prenatal exposures to POPs and allergic sensitization and lung function in 20-year-old offspring. METHODS: In a Danish cohort of 965 pregnant women established in 1988-1989, six polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) were quantified in archived maternal serum drawn in gestational week 30 (n = 872). Among those with available maternal exposure information, at age 20, 421 offspring attended attended a clinical examination including measurements of allergic sensitization (serum-specific IgE ≥ 0.35 kUA /L) (n = 418) and lung function [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1 ) and forced vital capacity (FVC)] (n = 414). RESULTS: There were no associations between maternal concentrations of POPs and offspring allergic sensitization at 20 years of age. Maternal concentrations of POPs were, however, positively associated with offspring airway obstruction (FEV1 /FVC < 75%). Compared to offspring in the first tertile of exposure, offspring in the third tertile of dioxin-like PCB exposure had an OR of 2.96 (95% CI: 1.14-7.70). Similar associations for non-dioxin-like PCBs, HCB, and p,p'-DDE were 2.68 (1.06-6.81), 2.63 (1.07, 6.46), and 2.87 (1.09, 7.57), respectively. No associations were observed with reduced lung function (FEV1 % of predicted value < 90%). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our data indicate that prenatal exposure to POPs appears to be associated with airway obstruction but not allergic sensitization at 20 years of age. The findings support that chronic obstructive lung diseases may have at least part of their origins in early life.