Serum Concentrations of Organochlorine Pesticides and Growth among Russian Boys
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info:doi/10.1289/ehp.1103743
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info:doi/10.1289/ehp.1103743
Citation: Burns JS, Williams PL, Sergeyev O, Korrick SA, Lee MM, Revich B, et al. 2011. Serum Concentrations of Organochlorine Pesticides and Growth among Russian Boys. Environ Health Perspect :-. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1103743
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Limited human data suggests an association of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) with adverse effects on children's growth.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the associations of OCPs with longitudinally-assessed growth among peri-pubertal boys from a Russian cohort with high environmental OCP levels.
METHODS: A cohort of 499 boys enrolled in the Russian Children's Study between 2003 and 2005 at ages 8-9 years were followed prospectively for four years. At study entry, 350 boys had serum OCPs measured. Physical examinations were conducted at entry and annually. The longitudinal associations of serum OCPs with annual measurements of body mass index (BMI), height, and height velocity were examined by multivariate mixed effects regression models for repeated measures, controlling for potential confounders.
RESULTS: Among the 350 boys with OCP measurements, median serum hexachlorobenzene (HCB), beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (βHCH), and p,p´-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p´-DDE) concentrations were 159 ng/g lipid, 168 ng/g lipid, and 287 ng/g lipid, respectively. Age-adjusted BMI and height z-scores generally fell within the normal range per World Health Organization standards at entry and during follow-up. However, in adjusted models, boys with higher serum HCB, βHCH, and p,p´-DDE had significantly lower mean (95% CI) BMI z-scores by -0.83 (-1.22, -0.45), -1.32 (-1.70, -0.95), and -1.38 (-1.76, -0.99), respectively, for the highest vs. lowest quintile. In addition, the highest quintile of p,p´-DDE was associated with a significantly lower mean (95% CI) height z-score by -0.70 (-1.00, -0.39) as compared to the lowest quintile.
CONCLUSIONS: Serum OCP concentrations measured at age 8 to 9 years were associated with reduced growth, particularly reduced BMI, during the peri-pubertal period, which may impact attainment of optimal adult body mass and height.
