title: Age at natural menopause and exposure to organochlorine pesticides in Hispanic women.
abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between exposure to selected organochlorine pesticides (OCP) (p,p'-DDT, p',p'-DDE, dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane [beta-HCH], oxychlordane, trans' nonachlor) and age at natural menopause in a sample of 219 menopausal women participating in the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 1982-1984. Information on age at menopause, reproductive history, demographic variables, and potential confounding variables was collected via interview. Analysis of variance was employed to compare adjusted mean age at natural menopause among women by category of serum OCP level. Serum levels of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, beta-HCH, and trans-nonachlor were associated with a younger age at menopause. In particular, women with exposure levels in the highest exposure categories (serum p,p'-DDT > or = 6ppb, beta-HCH > or = 4ppb, or trans-nonachlor > or = 2ppb) had an adjusted mean age at menopause on average 5.7, 3.4, and 5.2 yr earlier, respectively, than women with serum levels of these pesticides below the detection limit. Women with serum p,p'-DDE levels greater than 23.6 ppb (highest quintile) had an adjusted mean age at menopause 1.7 yr earlier than women with serump,p'-DDE levels less than 5.5 ppb (lowest quintile). However, no consistent dose-response effect was apparent across low, medium, and high exposure categories. Interactions were detected for p,p'-DDT in combination with beta-HCH, trans-nonachlor, or oxychlordane, as well as beta-HCH in combination with oxychlordane.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526-8117, USA. judy.e.akkina@usda.gov
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akkina
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reif
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keefe
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bachand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002706:Chlordan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003634:DDT / Q000097:blood; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000097:blood; D004026:Dieldrin / Q000097:blood; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000097:blood; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000097:blood; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D008019:Life Style; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D017584:Reproductive History; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014930:Women
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007306:Insecticides; D002706:Chlordan; C008743:oxychlordane; C001870:nonachlor; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D003634:DDT; D004026:Dieldrin; C023888:beta-hexachlorocyclohexane