DDT and DDE exposure in mothers and time to pregnancy in daughters.
Reproductive-tract anomalies after administration of the potent oestrogen, diethylstilboestrol, in pregnant women raised concerns about the reproductive effects of exposure to weakly oestrogenic environmental contaminants such as bis[4-chlorophenyl]-1,1,1-trichloroethane (p,p'-DDT) or its metabolites, such as bis[4-chlorophenyl]-1,1-dichloroethene (p,p'-DDE). We measured p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE in preserved maternal serum samples drawn 1-3 days after delivery between 1960 and 1963. We recorded time to pregnancy in 289 eldest daughters 28-31 years later. Daughters' probability of pregnancy fell by 32% per 10 microg/L p,p'-DDT in maternal serum (95% CI 11-48). By contrast, the probability of pregnancy increased 16% per 10 microg/L p,p'-DDE (6-27). The decreased fecundability associated with prenatal p,p'-DDT remains unexplained. We speculate that the antiandrogenic activity of p,p'-DDE may mitigate harmful androgen effects on the ovary during gestation or early life.
Cohn
Barbara A
BA
Child Health and Development Studies, Center for Research on Women's and Children's Health, Public Health Institute, 1683 Shattuck Avenue, Suite B, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA. crwch@emf.net <crwch@emf.net>
Cirillo
Piera M
PM
Wolff
Mary S
MS
Schwingl
Pamela J
PJ
Cohen
Richard D
RD
Sholtz
Robert I
RI
Ferrara
Assiamira
A
Christianson
Roberta E
RE
van den Berg
Barbara J
BJ
Siiteri
Pentti K
PK
D000328:Adult; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003634:DDT / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D007306:Insecticides; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D003634:DDT