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

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 102 - 110
• Main Authors: Moysich, Kirsten B., Ambrosone, Christine B., Mendola, Pauline, Kostyniak, Paul J., Greizerstein, Hebe B., Vena, John E., Menezes, Ravi J., Swede, Helen, Shields, Peter G., Freudenheim, Jo. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.02.2002; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; DDE; Diet; dietary factors; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Female; HCB; Health Surveys; hexachlorobenzene; Hexachlorobenzene - blood; Humans; Insecticides - blood; Linear Models; Lipids - blood; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; New York; organochlorines; PCBs; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - blood; post-menopause; Postmenopause - blood; reproductive factors; Risk Factors; Toxicology; Various organic compounds; New York; United States; North America; America; USA, New York, Western; USA, New York; Human; Health and environment; DDE; Organochlorine compounds; Risk factor; Postmenopause; Female; Serum; Exposure; Non occupational; Polychlorobiphenyl; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.10043

Background Organochlorines, such as 2,2‐bis (4‐chlorophenyl)‐1,1‐dichloroethylene (DDE), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) are lipophilic compounds that are ubiquitous in the environment and may cause adverse health effects in humans. Methods We examined the correlation between epidemiological exposure variables and serum DDE, PCB, and HCB levels in a sample of 192 healthy, female postmenopausal western New York residents; a subset of the control group from a case–control study on breast cancer risk. Usual diet, reproductive and medical histories, and other lifestyle information were obtained by an extensive in person interview. Serum levels (ng/g) of DDE, HCB, and 69 PCB congeners were determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Statistical analyses included computations of crude and age and lipid adjusted correlation coefficients, as well as multiple linear regression analysis. Results Results indicated that the strongest predictors for serum DDE levels were age, serum lipids, parity, and fruit and dairy consumption. Statistically significant predictors of PCB levels included age, serum lipids, parity, and fish consumption. Serum HCB levels were related to age, serum lipids, and fruit and red meat consumption. Conclusions Our findings are consistent with previous investigations that reported strong associations between organochlorine levels and age and serum lipids. The absence of other data showing an association between fruit intake and organochlorine levels make the importance of this finding unclear. Am. J. Ind. Med. 41:102–110, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.