Prenatal exposure to 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE) in relation to child growth.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relation between prenatal 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE) exposure (a metabolite of the insecticide DDT) and child growth during the first 7 years of life. Design Prospective cohort study. Participants 1,712 children born between 1959 and 1966 with measured p,p'-DDE concentrations in their mother's serum samples from pregnancy. Setting Multicenter US Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP).


RESULTS
The highest prenatal concentrations of p,p'-DDE (>or=60 microg/l), as compared with the lowest (<15 microg/l), were associated with decreased height at age 1 year [adjusted coefficient (SE) = -0.72 cm (0.37), n = 1,540], 4 years [-1.14 cm (0.56), n = 1,289], and 7 years [-2.19 (0.46), n = 1,371]. Among subjects in lower categories of exposure no association was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that high prenatal exposure to p,p'-DDE decreases height in children. Impaired growth may be a general indicator of toxicity and suggests that specific organ systems (e.g. endocrine) could be affected.
Ribas-Fitó
Núria
N
Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, USA. nribas@imim.es
Gladen
Beth C
BC
Brock
John W
JW
Klebanoff
Mark A
MA
Longnecker
Matthew P
MP
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007306:Insecticides; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene