The pesticide DDT [1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(chlorodiphenyl)ethane] is 1 of the 12 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under negotiation at the Stockholm Convention to restrict or ban their production and use because of their toxicity, resistance to breakdown, bioaccumulation, and potential for being transported over long distances. DDT has estrogenic potential, and the main metabolite, p,p9-dichlorodiphenyl-dichloroethylene (p,p9-DDE), is a potent antiandrogen. In response to mounting evidence on the endocrine-disrupting influence of environmental chemicals on human health, this epidemiological study was initiated to test the hypothesis that nonoccupational exposure to DDT affects male reproductive parameters. In a cross-sectional study, healthy male subjects (n 5 311) between 18 and 40 years (23 6 5) of age were recruited from 3 communities in an endemic malaria area in which DDT is sprayed annually. A semen analysis according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards was performed. The Hamilton Thorne Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) system was simultaneously used to determine additional sperm motility parameters. Blood plasma samples were assayed for p,p9-DDT and metabolites as a measure of exposure. The exposure levels were expressed as lipid-adjusted p,p9-DDT and p,p9-DDE values. The mean p,p9-DDT and p,p9-DDE concentrations were 90.23 mg/g (6102.4) and 215.47 mg/g (6210.6), respectively. The multivariate linear regression analyses indicated that mean CASA motility was lower with a higher p,p9-DDE concentration (b 5 20.02, P 5 .001) and the CASA parameter beat cross-frequency (BCF) was higher with a higher p,p9-DDT concentration (b 5 0.01, P 5 .000). There was also a statistically significant positive association between percent sperm with cytoplasmic droplets and p,p9-DDT concentration (b 5 0.0014, P 5 .014). The ejaculate volume (mean 1.9 6 1.33 mL) was lower than the normal range ($2.0 mL) according to WHO, and a significant decrease with increasing p,p9-DDE values was seen for both square roottransformed volume (b 5 20.0003; P 5 .024) and count (b 5 20.003; P 5 .04). Although there were no associations between either p,p9-DDT or p,p9-DDE concentrations and the rest of the seminal parameters, the incidence of teratozoospermia (99%; normal sperm ,15%) was high. Twenty-eight percent of the study group presented with oligozoospermia (,20 6 10 6 sperm/mL), which had a significant positive association with p,p9-DDE (odds ratio [OR] 5 1.001, P 5 .03). There was a significant positive association between participants with asthenozoospermia (32%) and p,p9-DDT (OR 1.003, P 5 .006) and p,p9-DDE (OR 1.001, P 5 .02). The results imply that nonoccupational exposure to DDT is associated with impaired seminal parameters in men. The high exposure levels of p,p9-DDT and p,p9-DDE are of concern because these levels could have far-reaching implications for reproductive and general health.
The aquatic environment can contain numerous micropollutants and there are concerns about endocrine activity in environmental waters and the potential impacts on human and ecosystem health. In this study a complementary chemical analysis and in vitro bioassay approach was applied to evaluate endocrine activity in treated wastewater, surface water and drinking water samples from six countries (Germany, Australia, France, South Africa, the Netherlands and Spain). The bioassay test battery included assays indicative of seven endocrine pathways, while 58 different chemicals, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals and industrial compounds, were analysed by targeted chemical analysis. Endocrine activity was below the limit of quantification for most water samples, with only two of six treated wastewater samples and two of six surface water samples exhibiting estrogenic, glucocorticoid, progestagenic and/or anti-mineralocorticoid activity above the limit of quantification. Based on available effect-based trigger values (EBT) for estrogenic and glucocorticoid activity, some of the wastewater and surface water samples were found to exceed the EBT, suggesting these environmental waters may pose a potential risk to ecosystem health. In contrast, the lack of bioassay activity and low detected chemical concentrations in the drinking water samples do not suggest a risk to human endocrine health, with all samples below the relevant EBTs.
The results suggest that non-occupational environmental DDT exposure may have a negative impact on sperm chromatin integrity in young South African males.
Keywords:Heavy metals Oestradiol Human health Microbial pathogens Water quality abstract Water quality has deteriorated in the upper Olifants River system, South Africa, as a result of land use activities which include mining, agriculture and industries. A health risk assessment was conducted from 2009 to 2011 in the catchment to determine the possible risks local communities face from various pollutants such as microbials, heavy metals and oestrogen in the river water and vegetation. Aluminium and manganese accumulated in plants and vanadium and aluminium concentrations found in selective water samples posed significant health risks when consumed. A quantitative microbial risk assessment revealed that the combined risk of infection ranged from 1 to 26 percent with the Norovirus posing the overall greatest health risk. The anticipated disability adjusted life years resulting from drinking untreated water from these sites are in the order of 10,000 times greater than what is considered acceptable. The oestradiol activity, caused by endocrine disrupting compounds in the water, measured above the trigger value of 0.7 ng L −1 . Impoverished communities in the area, who partially depend on river water for potable and domestic use, are exposed to immune-compromising metals that increase their probability of infection from waterborne diseases caused by the excess microbial pathogens in the contaminated surface water.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.