title: Determinants of serum concentrations of 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene and polychlorinated biphenyls among French women in the CECILE study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organochlorine compounds bioaccumulating in human tissues. Body burden of organochlorines may be influenced by individual characteristics such as age, weight variations, breastfeeding, dietary habits and place of residence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the current serum concentrations of 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE), the main DDT breakdown product, and of PCBs in women from two French administrative areas (Ille-et-Vilaine and Côte d'Or). To identify determinants of the current serum levels among individual characteristics related to intake, metabolism, and excretion of organochlorines.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured serum p,p'-DDE and PCB levels in 1055 general population women who were recruited in 2005-2007 to serve as controls in a case-control study on breast cancer. Associations between organochlorine levels and age, current body mass index (BMI), BMI change during the last 10 years, dietary habits, breastfeeding history, residence area and education were assessed in multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median concentrations of p,p'-DDE and total PCBs were 85 and 240ng/g lipid, respectively. Based on multivariate analyses, the main predictors of high p,p'-DDE levels included age and frequent consumption of saltwater fish in women below 50 years, and high BMI in older women. Total PCB levels increased markedly with age. Among older women, other important predictors of high PCB levels included frequent consumption of saltwater fish and low BMI. Our results are also suggestive of an inverse association between PCB levels and BMI gain during the last ten years. Women in Côte d'Or had significantly higher PCB levels than women in Ille-et-Vilaine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patterns of associations between determinants and serum organochlorine concentrations suggest that human PCB contamination is still ongoing in France. The most important predictors of serum p,p'-DDE and PCB concentrations among French women include age, body mass index, dietary habits, and place of residence.
authors.affiliation: Inserm, CESP Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, U 1018, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bachelet
authors.forename: Thérèse
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Truong
authors.forename: Marc-André
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Verner
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arveux
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kerbrat
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Charlier
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guihenneuc-Jouyaux
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guénel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D017747:Seafood
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls