In Utero Exposure to the Antiandrogen 1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) in Relation to Anogenital Distance in Male Newborns from Chiapas, México

The insecticide 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) is still used for disease control in some areas, resulting in high levels of human exposure. The main degradation product of DDT is 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE), an antiandrogen. In animal experiments, in utero...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of epidemiology 2007-05, Vol.165 (9), p.1015-1022
Main Authors: Longnecker, Matthew P., Gladen, Beth C., Cupul-Uicab, Lea A., Romano-Riquer, S. Patricia, Weber, Jean-Phillipe, Chapin, Robert E., Hernández-Ávila, Mauricio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Analysis. Health state
Androgen Antagonists - toxicity
Androgens
Biological and medical sciences
Cross-Sectional Studies
DDT
DDT - toxicity
Developmental Biology
dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene
Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene - toxicity
Endocrine system
endocrine system diseases
Endocrine System Diseases - chemically induced
Endocrine System Diseases - epidemiology
Epidemiology
Female
General aspects
genitalia
Genitalia, Male - abnormalities
Genitalia, Male - drug effects
Human exposure
Humans
Incidence
Infant, Newborn
Insecticides
Male
Males
Maternal Exposure - adverse effects
Maternal-Fetal Exchange
Medical sciences
Mexico - epidemiology
Pregnancy
Prenatal development
prenatal exposure delayed effects
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Time Factors
Urogenital Abnormalities - chemically induced
Urogenital Abnormalities - epidemiology
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Summary:The insecticide 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) is still used for disease control in some areas, resulting in high levels of human exposure. The main degradation product of DDT is 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE), an antiandrogen. In animal experiments, in utero exposure to DDE decreases anogenital distance in male offspring. In these models, anogenital distance serves as a measure of fetal androgen action. The authors designed the present study to examine the hypothesis that in utero exposure to DDE decreases anogenital distance in newborn human males. A cross-sectional study of 781 newly delivered male infants was conducted in 2002–2003 in Chiapas, México, where DDT had recently been used for malaria control. Measurements of anogenital distance and penile dimensions were taken, and a sample of the mother's blood was drawn. In this population, the range of serum DDE levels was large (0.8–398 μg/liter). The authors, using two-sided tests, found no evidence that exposure in utero to DDE was related to reduced androgen action as reflected by anogenital distance or penile dimensions at birth. If DDE has important antiandrogenic action in humans, it may be manifest only at higher levels of exposure or via effects on other outcomes.
ISSN:0002-9262
1476-6256
DOI:10.1093/aje/kwk109