Levels of some organochlorine residues in blood of patients with arteriosclerotic disease☆

Dietary exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls is associated with increased risk of stroke in women

“…Experimental animal and cell culture studies have indicated that PCBs cause hyperlipidaemia and hypertension, as well as endothelial cell dysfunction [37][38][39][40][41][42][43], which are cornerstones in the development of atherosclerosis. In human studies mainly based on cross-sectional data, PCB exposure has been positively associated with several risk factors for stroke and ischaemic stroke such as hypertension [4,[44][45][46], hyperlipidaemia [3,4,47], type 2 diabetes [2,48] and atherosclerosis [5,49]. Hypertension is also an established risk factor for haemorrhagic stroke.…”

Vascular effects of environmental oestrogens: implications for reproductive and vascular health

“…Compared with PCB and TCDD, much less is known regarding the effects of DDT on the vasculature. The relationship between DDT and vascular disease is supported by an observational study showing that concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (including DDT) are increased in patients with atherosclerosis (Pines et al, 1986). With regard to the effects of DDT on vascular SMC, it has been shown (Ruehlmann et al, 1998) that 4-octylphenol, pnonylphenol and o,p'-DDT inhibit L-type Ca 2+ channels in vascular SMC and invoke a rapid and endothelium-independent relaxation of the coronary vasculature similar to that induced by 17b-oestradiol.…”

“…Interestingly, it has been reported (Kreiss et al, 1981) that in humans there is an association between blood pressure and PCB concentrations. PCB concentrations also correlate positively with gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and serum cholesterol concentrations, and there is a positive association between severe arteriosclerosis and concentrations of organochlorine compounds in humans (Pines et al, 1986). Because PCB decrease the production of endogenous antioxidant and growth inhibitory molecules such as vitamin E, it is feasible that they may also induce abnormal growth within the vasculature, which eventually would lead to occlusion of vessels.…”

Potential role for organochlorine pesticides in the prevalence of peripheral arterial diseases in obese persons: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2004

“…Morgan et al found in a prospective cohort study significant associations between a history of elevated serum pesticide levels and the subsequent development of arteriosclerosis and arterial hypertension among workers occupationally exposed to OC pesticides [6]. An observational study reported that patients with atherosclerosis had higher serum levels of OC pesticides than the control groups [7]. Recent studies using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data have shown a positive association between concentrations of OC pesticides and self-reported cardiovascular diseases [8,9].…”