The adipose tissue to serum dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDE) ratio: Some methodological considerations

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Environmental Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/enrs.1999.3961· OSTI ID:6277675

Lopez-Carrillo, L ^[1]; Torres-Sanchez, L; Lopez-Cervantes, M ^[2]; Blair, A ^[3]; Cebrian, M E; Uribe, M ^[4]

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1. Mexico Secretariat of Health, Cuernavaca (Mexico). National Inst. of Public Health John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (United States)
2. Mexico Secretariat of Health, Cuernavaca (Mexico). National Inst. of Public Health
3. National Cancer Inst., Bethesda, MD (United States)
4. National Polytechnic Inst. (United States). Center for Research and Advanced Studies

Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDE) adipose tissue level has been regarded as a preferred indicator of accumulated human exposure to DDT; however, blood sera are more feasible to obtain and analyze than adipose tissue samples. Inconsistent and scarce information exists in relation to the adipose tissue/serum DDE ratio. As a part of a hospital-based case-control study performed in Mexico City from 1994 to 1996, 198 paired serum and adipose tissue samples were obtained from 72 women with histologically confirmed breast cancer and 126 women with benign breast disease. Both adipose tissue and serum DDE levels were determined by gas-liquid chromatography and reported as ppb lipid weight (ng/g) as well as wet basis (ng/ml). Results showed that the adipose tissue/serum DDE ratio (ADSE) varies according to the type of information (lipid vs wet basis, arithmetic vs geometric means) used for its estimation. ADSE gets a value near 1 (1.1) only when the geometric DDE levels in lipid basis are used for its estimation. The correlation between DDE serum and adipose tissue levels was found (r = 0.364, P < 0.001). The ADSE did not vary by disease status, nor was it altered by parity, history of breast-feeding, and other reproductive characteristics. The authors endorse the use of venipuncture instead of biopsy as a way to estimate DDT body burden levels in further research.

• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; NIEHS; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); National Inst. of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FC01-95EW55084; FC09-96SR18546
• OSTI ID: 6277675
• Journal Information: Environmental Research, Journal Name: Environmental Research Vol. 81:2; ISSN ENVRAL; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADIPOSE TISSUE
ANIMAL TISSUES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BLOOD SERUM
BODY
BODY BURDEN
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS