Serum Concentrations of Organochlorine Pesticides and Growth among Russian Boys

Abstract

Background: Limited human data suggest an association of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) with adverse effects on children’s growth.Objective: We evaluated the associations of OCPs with longitudinally assessed growth among peripubertal boys from a Russian cohort with high environmental OCP levels.Methods: A cohort of 499 boys enrolled in the Russian Children’s Study between 2003 and 2005 at 8–9 years of age were followed prospectively for 4 years. At study entry, 350 boys had serum OCPs measured. Physical examinations were conducted at entry and annually. The longitudinal associations of serum OCPs with annual measurements of body mass index (BMI), height, and height velocity were examined by multivariate mixed-effects regression models for repeated measures, controlling for potential confounders.Results: Among the 350 boys with OCP measurements, median serum hexachlorobenzene (HCB), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (βHCH), and p,p´-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p´-DDE) concentrations were 159 ng/g lipid, 168 ng/g lipid, and 287 ng/g lipid, respectively. Age-adjusted BMI and height z-scores generally fell within the normal range per World Health Organization standards at entry and during follow-up. However, in adjusted models, boys with higher serum HCB, βHCH, and p,p´-DDE had significantly lower mean [95% confidence interval (CI)] BMI z-scores, by –0.84 (–1.23, –0.46), –1.32 (–1.70, –0.95), and –1.37 (–1.75, –0.98), respectively, for the highest versus lowest quintile. In addition, the highest quintile of p,p´-DDE was associated with a significantly lower mean (95% CI) height z-score, by –0.69 (–1.00, –0.39) than that of the lowest quintile.Conclusions: Serum OCP concentrations measured at 8–9 years of age were associated with reduced growth, particularly reduced BMI, during the peripubertal period, which may affect attainment of optimal adult body mass and height.

Self-reported Health Effects among Short and Long-term Pesticide Sprayers in Arusha, Northern Tanzania: A cross Sectional Study

“…These findings are in line with previous reports [14,44] in which individuals that were regularly exposed to carbamates and endosulfan reported reproductive and erectile dysfunction. In addition, Burnett [45] in his review reports increased erectile dysfunction and loss of libido in men exposed to a variety pesticides [46,47].…”

Height and blood chemistry in adults with a history of developmental arsenic poisoning from contaminated milk powder

“…Of possible relevance, an inverse association has been reported between arsenic exposure and the plasma concentration of insulin-like growth factor 1 in preschool children (Ahmed et al 2013). Adverse effects of environmental exposure to metals, such as lead and cadmium, on children's growth and insulin-like growth factor 1, support the notion that developmental exposures can affect height achieved at adult age (Afeiche et al 2012;Burns et al 2012;Fleisch et al 2013;Gardner et al 2013). …”

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] …”

“…[9] A recent Russian cohort study of 499 boys aged 8 -9 years revealed lower mean BMI and height Z-scores associated with p,p'-DDE. [10] This contradictory epidemiological evidence in the literature of the effects of pesticides on pubertal development of boys requires further investigation.…”