Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (15)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Vine, M. F.
Right arrow Articles by Backer, L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Vine, M. F.
Right arrow Articles by Backer, L.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 153, No. 1 : 53-63
Copyright © 2001 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Plasma 1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) Levels and Immune Response

Marilyn F. Vine1, Leonard Stein2, Kristen Weigle1, Jane Schroeder1, Darrah Degnan1, Chui-Kit J. Tse1 and Lorraine Backer3

1 Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
2 Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.

For determination of whether plasma 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) pesticide levels (<=1–32 ppb) are associated with immune suppression or DNA damage in lymphocytes, 302 individuals residing in Moore County, North Carolina, in 1994–1996 provided a blood specimen, underwent a skin test, and answered a questionnaire concerning factors affecting plasma organochlorine pesticide levels and the immune system. The blood specimens were analyzed for levels of plasma DDE (a metabolite of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane), numbers and types of blood cells, immunoglobulin levels, mitogen-induced lymphoproliferative activity, and lymphocyte micronuclei. When DDE levels were categorized as 1 or less, more than 1 to 2, more than 2 to 4.3, more than 4.3 to 7.6, and more than 7.6 ppb, individuals with higher plasma DDE levels had lowered mitogen-induced lymphoproliferative activity (concanavalin A, range: 74,218 dropping to 55,880 counts per minute, p = 0.03) and modestly increased total lymphocytes (range: 2.0–2.3 x 103/µl, p = 0.05) and immunoglobulin A levels (range: 210–252 mg/dl, p = 0.04). There were no consistent differences in response to the skin tests by plasma DDE levels. Plasma DDE levels were not associated with a higher frequency of micronuclei. The authors conclude that relatively low levels of plasma DDE are associated with statistically significant changes in immune markers, although the magnitude of the effects are of uncertain clinical importance.

DDE; DDT; DNA; immunity; micronuclei; pesticides

Abbreviations: BHC, hexachlorocyclohexane; con A, concanavalin A; DDE, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene; DDT, 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane; IgA, immunoglobulin A; IgE, immunoglobulin E; IgG, immunoglobulin G; IgM, immunoglobulin M; PHA, phytohemagglutinin; PWM, pokeweed mitogen


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.