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Environmental contaminants and body fat distribution
J M Schildkraut1, W Demark-Wahnefried, E DeVoto
1Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. schil001@mc.duke.edu
Summary
Black women have higher plasma levels of the organochlorine 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) than white women, independent of body mass index (BMI) and waist:hip ratio (WHR). BMI is an independent predictor of DDE levels.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Organochlorine compounds are persistent environmental contaminants.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist:Hip Ratio (WHR) are indicators of body composition.
- Plasma levels of lipophilic substances like organochlorines can be influenced by body fat distribution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between BMI, WHR, and plasma levels of organochlorines, specifically 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE).
- To examine racial differences in DDE plasma levels among black and white women.
- To determine if BMI and WHR modify the relationship between race and DDE levels.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 99 black and white women from a population-based study.
- Measurement of plasma DDE levels.
- Collection of anthropometric data (height, weight, waist, hip circumferences) and covariate information (diet, residential, breast-feeding histories).
- Multiple regression analyses to assess relationships between DDE, race, BMI, and WHR.
Main Results:
- Black women exhibited significantly higher plasma DDE levels compared to white women.
- These racial differences in DDE levels were independent of BMI and WHR.
- BMI was identified as an independent predictor of plasma DDE levels, whereas WHR was not.
- Only DDE was detectable in most of the 20 organochlorine compounds tested.
Conclusions:
- Racial disparities exist in plasma DDE levels, with black women having higher concentrations.
- BMI is a significant factor influencing circulating DDE levels, suggesting its role in the distribution of lipophilic contaminants.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering race and BMI in studies examining environmental contaminant exposure and health outcomes, such as breast cancer risk.