Prenatal DDT Exposure in Relation to Anthropometric and Pubertal Measures in Adolescent Males

Abstract

DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), a pesticide once used widely in agriculture and now limited to public health use, remains a controversial chemical because of a combination of benefits and risks. DDT or its breakdown products are ubiquitous in the environment and in humans. Compounds in the DDT family have endocrine actions and have been associated with reproductive toxicity. A previous study reported associations between prenatal exposure to p,p′-DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene] and increased height and weight in adolescent boys. We examined a group with higher exposures to see whether similar associations would occur. Our study group was 304 males born in Philadelphia in the early 1960s who had participated in a previous study. Anthropometric and pubertal measures from one to six visits during their adolescent years were available, as were stored maternal serum samples from pregnancy. We measured p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDT [1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethane], and o,p′-DDT [1,1,1-trichloro-2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-(p-chlorophenyl)-ethane] in the maternal serum. Outcomes examined in the boys were height, ratio of sitting height to height, body mass index, triceps skinfold thickness, ratio of subscapular to the sum of triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses, skeletal age, serum testosterone, and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. No associations between prenatal exposure to any of the DDT compounds and any outcome measure were seen.

Estimating perchlorate exposure from food and tap water based on US biomonitoring and occurrence data

“…Reproductive effects in humans affecting birth weight, fertility, and duration of lactation, have not been consistently demonstrated (Beard, 2006;Gladen and Rogan, 1995;Jusko et al, 2006), although the risk for preterm delivery may be related to maternal DDE levels (Longnecker et al, 2001). Epidemiologic studies of children with environmental exposure to DDT and DDE have not demonstrated neurologic or developmental abnormalities (Gladen et al, 2004;Jusko et al, 2006;Longnecker et al, 2002;Mariussen and Fonnum, 2006). Several reviews of cancer epidemiologic studies have concluded that a link between DDT and breast cancer is inconclusive (Beard, 2006;Calle et al, 2002;Snedeker, 2001).…”

Relationship between environmental exposure to pesticides and anthropometric outcomes of boys in the rural Western Cape, South Africa

“…[2] No studies investigating the effect of currently registered agricultural pesticides on pubertal growth were found in the literature, but there is laboratory and epidemiological evidence of reduced height measurements among DDT-exposed boys, although results are contradictory, as discussed earlier. [6][7][8][9][10] …”

“…However, when the study was repeated 4 years later on boys born during the period when DDT was used, no associations were found between p,p'-DDE and anthropometric measurements. [7] On the other hand, a prospective study conducted in Germany [8] showed no effect on the height of boys, although reduced height among girls was associated with exposure to higher postnatal childhood p,p'-DDE concentrations. Also, a prospective cohort study done in the USA revealed significantly reduced height among boys between ages 4 and 7 years in the high-exposure group.…”

Some evidence of effects of environmental chemicals on the endocrine system in children

“…In a subsequent analysis, using follow-up data from 304 males, enrolled at birth between 1960 − 1965, who had been followed to adolescence in the US Perinatal Collaborative Project, Gladen (Gladen et al, 2004) did not see any effect of prenatal DDT exposure on growth at puberty, and so the large effect seen in North Carolina remains unconfirmed.…”