Cancer mortality and environmental exposure to DDE in the United States.

Abstract

To explore the role of DDE, the major and most persistent DDT derivative, in cancer etiology, we examined the association of the 1968 adipose DDE levels of population samples from 22 U.S. states with age-adjusted mortality rates between 1975 and 1994 for multiple mycloma; nonHodgkin lymphoma (NHL); and cancer of the breast, corpus uteri, liver, and pancreas. Separate analyses were conducted by gender and race. Covariates in the ression models induded average per-capita income, percent metropolitan residents, and the population density. Liver cancer mortality increased significantly with adipose DDE levels in both sexes among whites, but not among African Americans. No association was observed for pancreatic cancer and multiple myeloma. Breast cancer mortality was inversely correlated with adipose DDE levels amrong both white and African American women. Significant inverse correlations were also observed for uterine cancer among white women, whereas no association was observed for African Americans and for NHL among whites (men and women) and African American women. The results for pancreatic cancer, multiple myeloma, NHL, breast cancer, and uterine cancer did not support the hypothesis of an association with past adipose levels of the DDT derivative DDE. The multivariate analysis confirmed most findings. The association between liver cancer and DDE observed among whites, particularly in view of the occurrence of hepatic neoplasms in laboratory animals exposed to DDT, warrants fiurther investigation. Key word breast cancer, cancer of the corpus uteri, DDE, DDT, environment, epidemiology, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, pancreatic cancer.

p,p′-DDE depresses the immune competence of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) leukocytes

“…Following exposure in vivo to 59 ppm p,p#-DDE, the mitogenic response of salmon splenic leukocytes was significantly suppressed. However, exposure to other concentrations (23,46,88, and 105 ppm) of p,p#-DDE did not affect the mitogenic response. One explanation for these results may be the principle of homeostasis [55].…”

“…People living near the pesticide dumpsite in North Carolina, USA, had higher plasma p,p#-DDE levels and showed lower mitogenic response of lymphocytes [22]. In addition, p,p#-DDE is considered a carcinogen for humans [23,24]. Little is known about the mechanism of p,p#-DDE's immunosuppressive action in vertebrates.…”

Family history of hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic malignancies and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

“…1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) exposure has been suggested as a risk factor for liver cancer [38]. Epidemiological studies linking DDT and NHL risk, however, have yielded inconsistent results [39,40].…”

Isomer-Specific Activity of Dichlorodyphenyl-trichloroethane with Estrogen Receptor in Adult and Suckling Estrogen Reporter Mice

“…So far, little is known with regard to the effects of these compounds in nonreproductive organs. Previous epidemiological studies have shown effects of DDT on liver and the central nervous system (CNS) (8,10). Toxicity in liver has also been experimentally reproduced by Takayama et al (11) in nonhuman primates.…”