Adipose tissue levels of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Abstract

In this nested case-control study we examined the relationship between non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and organochlorine pesticide exposure. We used a data set originally collected between 1969 and 1983 in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Human Adipose Tissue Survey. Adipose samples were randomly collected from cadavers and surgical patients, and levels of organochlorine pesticide residues were determined. From the original study population, 175 NHL cases were identified and matched to 481 controls; 173 controls were selected from accident victims, and 308 from cases with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Cases and controls were mainly from cadavers (> 96%) and were matched on sex, age, region of residence within the United States, and race/ethnicity. Conditional logistic regression showed the organochlorine pesticide residue heptachlor epoxide to be significantly associated with NHL [compared with the lowest quartile: third quartile odds ratio (OR) = 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-3.28; fourth quartile OR = 3.41, 95% CI, 1.89-6.16]. The highest quartile level of dieldrin was also associated with elevated NHL risk (OR = 2.70; 95% CI, 1.58-4.61), as were higher levels of oxychlordane, p,p´-DDE [p,p-1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene], and β-benzene hexachloride (ORs = 1.79, 1.99, and 2.47, respectively). The p-values for trends for these associations were significant. In models containing pairs of pesticides, only heptachlor epoxide and dieldrin remained significantly associated with risk of NHL. Limitations of this study include collection of samples after diagnosis and a lack of information on variables affecting organochlorine levels such as diet, occupation, and body mass index. Given the persistence of pesticides in the environment, these findings are still relevant today.

Increased cancer burden among pesticide applicators and others due to pesticide exposure

“…Of these 11 studies, 7 measured chlordane/heptachlor or their metabolite (eg, oxychlordane, heptachlor epoxide) concentrations. Four studies 55,60,126,127 observed positive associations between chlordanes and NHL, whereas the 3 other studies did not observe an association. 48,54,58 In addition to oxychlordane and related compounds (eg, heptachlor), 10 of these studies examined the association between concentrations of DDT or its metabolite, DDE, and NHL.…”

“…48,54,58 In addition to oxychlordane and related compounds (eg, heptachlor), 10 of these studies examined the association between concentrations of DDT or its metabolite, DDE, and NHL. Five studies 48,55,60,126,127 demonstrated either positive or suggestive associations, whereas the other 5 studies 46,54,56,59,131 did not observe an association between DDT or DDE and NHL.…”

“…The vast majority of these studies focused on OC insecticides (11 of 15 studies) and used serum, 48,58,131 plasma, 46,[54][55][56]59 or adipose tissue 53,60,126 concentrations of the OC compounds as the estimate of exposure. Of these 11 studies, 7 measured chlordane/heptachlor or their metabolite (eg, oxychlordane, heptachlor epoxide) concentrations.…”

Fetal MouseCyp1b1and Transplacental Carcinogenesis from Maternal Exposure to Dibenzo(a,l)pyrene

“…Leukemias and lymphomas are the most common type of childhood cancer, followed by tumors of the nervous system. The etiology of 80% to 90% of childhood cancers is unknown (1, 21-23), but considerable evidence exists for maternal exposure to environmental chemicals as contributors to development of childhood leukemias and lymphomas (24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33). The two environmental in utero exposures that have definitively been linked with increased cancer in children and young adults are diethylstilbestrol and ionizing radiation (1).…”

The non-Hodgkin lymphomas: A review of the epidemiologic literature

“…Quintana et al 103 evaluated the association between levels of organochlorine pesticide residues from cadaveric adipose samples and risk of NHL. In single pesticide models, heptachlor epoxide (OR 5 3.41, 95% CI: 1.89-6.16), oxychlordane (OR 5 1.79, 95% CI: 1.04-3.08), dieldrin (OR 5 2.70, 95% CI: 1.58-4.6), p,p 0 -DDE (OR 5 1.99, 95% CI: 1.14-3.47) and b-BHC (OR 5 2.47, 95% CI: 1.34-4.55) were significantly associated with risk of NHL.…”