Determinants ofp,p'-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDE) Concentration in Adipose Tissue in Women from Five European Cities

Abstract

To identify the determinants of p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p'-DDE) in adipose tissue in subjects who participated in a cross-sectional study, we analyzed fatty acids, antioxidants, and p,p'-DDE in aspirates of adipose tissue of 328 postmenopausal women from 5 European countries. The overall mean of p,p'-DDE concentration was 1.66 microg/g of fatty acids (95% confidence interval = 1.46, 1.88). In a multiple-regression analysis, the main predictors of log10(p,p'DDE) were center of recruitment (p < .0001), adipose arachidic acid (p = .001), and adipose retinol (p = .04). These factors explained 14.9% of the overall variability of log10(p,p'-DDE). In our subjects, adipose tissue p,p'DDE concentrations were only weakly related with biomarkers reflecting intake of fish and other foods. This result is consistent with the notion that p,p'-DDE exists in different foods and, given the widespread contamination of the food chain, is relatively evenly distributed among foods.

Body Mass Index and Serum 1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-Bis(p-Chlorophenyl)Ethane in Nulliparous Chinese Women

“…Despite a narrow age range, we showed a positive association of serum DDT with age consistent with other population-based studies (11)(12)(13). However, this age-DDT association was no longer present when birth year was controlled in the models (Table 2).…”

“…Although diet is a common source of DDT exposure for nonoccupationally exposed populations, specific dietary correlates of DDT/DDE have not been consistently shown (11,13). Most notably, basic health indicators, such as body mass index (BMI) and weight change, have been variously associated with serum DDT/DDE levels.…”

Exposures associated with serum organochlorine levels among postmenopausal women from Western New York state

“…Four recent studies investigated predictors of organochlorine body burden in population-based samples recruited among elderly Germans [DeVoto et al, 1998], women from ®ve European cities [Sanz-Gallardo et al, 1999], nurses in the United States [Laden et al, 1999], and women from North Carolina [Schildkraut et al, 1999]. DeVoto et al [1998] reported that red meat intake was the strongest positive predictor of dieldrin, a-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), b-HCH, HCB, heptachlor epoxide, and DDT plasma levels among 297 elderly urban German residents.…”

Lower Serum Testosterone Associated with Elevated Polychlorinated Biphenyl Concentrations in Native American Men

“…Because of their chemical structure, they are resistant to biodegradation and are therefore persistent in the human body (Johnson et al 2006). Chlorinated pesticides were also widely used in the United States and other countries until the 1970s and, like PCBs, are persistent and widely distributed in human tissues (Sanz-Gallardo et al 1999). …”