Predictors of organochlorines in New York City pregnant women, 1998-2001.
Organochlorine compounds (OCs) have been found widely in human tissues. However, levels have been rapidly declining since their virtual ban in the 1970s. We measured 1,1'-dichloro-2,2'-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and trans-nonachlor (TN) in 194 pregnant women in New York City and examined demographic and dietary predictors of their levels in serum. Serum OC levels were low (median microg/L: 0.64 DDE, 0.79 PCB); TN was largely below the level of detection (74%). In multivariate models, levels of OCs increased with age; DDE was higher in women not born in the US or Puerto Rico; PCB were higher in women who bought fresh fish and lower in those with higher body mass indices.
Wolff
Mary S
MS
Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave Levy Pl., Box 1057, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA. mary.wolff@mssm.edu
Deych
Elena
E
Ojo
Fiola
F
Berkowitz
Gertrud S
GS
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000097:blood; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood*; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors
D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; C001870:nonachlor; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls