Pesticide Residues in Man - Pesticides: Evaluation of Environmental Pollution - page 488

70

∑HCHs
∑DDTs

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Countries

FIGURE 15.11
Comparison of organochlorine pesticide residue mean levels in blood serum samples of different countries.
Note : *Values of India and Sweden are in mg/kg; multiply by 1000 to change into μg/L (or μg/kg) reported for
the other compared countries. (Data with respect to countries and investigators are: Belgium: Charlier and
Plomteux (2002); mean value for data on men and women; no available data for HCHs. Germany: DeVoto et al.
(1998), estimation in whole blood. India: Dua et al. (2001), mean of results of three different intervals (e.g., March
2.14; July 3.12, and November 1.32 mg/L for ∑HCH, and 2.73, 6.92, and 4.59 mg/kg for ∑DDT, respectively) for
the above-mentioned months. Italy: Leoni et al. (1989), estimation conducted on women serum samples; no
available data for HCHs. Japan: Hanaoka et al. (2002); no available data for HCHs. Mexico: Waliszewski et al.
(1999a). Pakistan: Krawinkel et al. (1989), no available data for DDTs. Portugal: Cruz et al. (2003), mean values for
population from one urban and two rural regions. Spain: Guardino et al. (1996), estimations in whole blood, no
available data for HCHs. Sweden: Wicklund Glynn et al. (2000). United States: Stellman et al. (1998); excluding
p,p′-DDD from measured isomers of DDT; no available data for HCHs.)

with p,p′-DDE being the most frequently detected OC. Based on the authors' data, the
median concentration of total DDT body burden present in the Canary Islands (370 ng/g
fat) was similar to that found in other European countries, although it was noteworthy
that a fourth of the population showed a total DDT body burden higher than 715 ng/g
fat. Interestingly, statistically significant differences were found in the serum levels of
OC pesticides between islands, these levels being higher in people from Tenerife and
Gran Canaria (415 and 612 ng/g fat, respectively; Figure 15.14a), the islands that repre-
sent both the highest population and the highest surface devoted to intensive agriculture.
Samples from La Palma showed the highest concentration level of p,p′-DDE (ca. 140 ng/g
fat, Figure 15.14b). As expected, the serum levels of both total DDT body burden (Figure
15.14a) and p,p′-DDE (Figure 15.14b) increased with age, and urban inhabitants showed
the highest levels of total DDT body burden (542 ng/g fat, Figure 15.14a) compared with
ca.120 ng/g fat of the metabolite p,p′-DDE (Figure 15.14b). Statistically significant differ-
ences were also found in relation to gender, with women showing higher levels of these
OCPs than men (Figure 15.14a and 15.14b). Most studies showed an association between
p,p′-DDE levels and age (e.g., Voorspoels et al. 2002). DDT and its derivatives are consid-
ered as xenoestrogens, and they have been linked to breast cancer. Zumbado et al. (2005)
stated that the Canary Islands present high incidence of and mortality from breast cancer,
a matter which points to the possibility that these environmental contaminants may be
playing a determining role in this respect.