Predictors of organochlorines in New York City pregnant women, 1998-2001

Organochlorine compounds (OCs) have been found widely in human tissues. However, levels have been rapidly declining since their virtual ban in the 1970s. We measured 1,1′-dichloro-2,2′-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and trans-nonachlor (TN) in 194 pregnant women in New York City and examined demographic and dietary predictors of their levels in serum. Serum OC levels were low (median μg/L: 0.64 DDE, 0.79 PCB); TN was largely below the level of detection (74%). In multivariate models, levels of OCs increased with age; DDE was higher in women not born in the US or Puerto Rico; PCB were higher in women who bought fresh fish and lower in those with higher body mass indices.