Prenatal exposure to 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p0-DDE) in relation to child growth

Objective To examine the relation between prenatal 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (p,p0-DDE) exposure (a metabolite of the insecticide DDT) and child growth during the first 7 years of life. Design Prospective cohort study. Participants 1712 children born between 1959 and 1966 with measured p,p0-DDE concentrations in their mother’s serum samples from pregnancy. Setting Multicenter US Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP). Results The highest prenatal concentrations of p,p0-DDE (>60 mg/l), as compared with the lowest (,15 mg/l), were associated with decreased height at age 1 year [adjusted coefficient (SE) 5 0.72 cm (0.37), n 5 1540], 4 years [1.14 cm (0.56), n 5 1289], and 7 years [2.19 (0.46), n 5 1371]. Among subjects in lower categories of exposure no association was observed. Conclusions The findings suggest that high prenatal exposure to p,p0-DDE decreases height in children. Impaired growth may be a general indicator of toxicity and suggests that specific organ systems (e.g. endocrine) could be affected