Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its Metabolite Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) in Relation to Cancer and Prevention Pathways

Authors:

Betul Isiner Kaya (Presenter)
MEHMET AKIF ERSOY UNIVERSITY

Public Health Statement: Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is a colorless, crystalline, tasteless, and almost odorless organochlorine known for its insecticidal properties and environmental impacts. DDE is the major metabolite of DDT and created by dehydrohalogenation of DDT. They were used as insecticides in agriculture and in public health after the mid-1940s and banned in the the early 1970s.

Purpose: It is also reported and emphasized in this study that some organochlorine pesticides in biological systems have endocrine-disrupting activity. p,p-DDE and p,p-DDT possess both weak estrogenic and androgenic effects. DDT and DDE have functioned in the etiology of various diseases and endocrine-related disorders, such as pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, uterine cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer.

Methods/Approach: Due to their lipophilic nature which will be detailed in the study, DDT and DDE have bioaccumulated in the food chain, and their levels are still measurable in blood samples today, including those taken from pregnant women, as well as breast milk samples.

Results: Despite all these adverse effects, biological monitoring of these pesticide exposures is not usually carried out by routine activities. Even though there are many reasons of that, the most important reason is related to methods. Analytical methods, currently available, are commonly very complicated and there are few completely validated methods. However, the routine monitoring of DDT exposure is of great importance to prevent future health risks.

Conclusions/Implications: Thus, in this study, the analysis of the further investigation of pesticide exposure which will be useful to establish the relationship among cancer, DDE,DDT serum levels and other possible determining factors, such as lifestyle, dietary habits, and health conditions is significant to reveal latest developments and researches on preventing cancer.