Prenatal exposure to the major DDT metabolite 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) and growth in boys from Mexico

Recent data suggest that prenatal exposure to p,p′-DDE may reduce height and increase body mass index (BMI) in childhood, thus potentially raising the risk of adult health problems. The association between prenatal DDE exposure and growth was evaluated in 788 boys from Chiapas, an area of Mexico where DDT was recently used. The median DDE levels in maternal serum at birth (2002–2003) were 2.7 μg/g lipid. 2633 measurements of height (cm) and weight (kg) were obtained in 2004–2005. The median age of the children during follow-up was 18 months (quartiles 14 and 22 months). Height and body mass index (kg/m2) were age-standardized and expressed as standard deviation scores (SDS). Multivariate random-effect models for longitudinal data were fitted and predicted height and BMI SDS were estimated from the adjusted models. Overall, associations between prenatal DDE level and height or BMI SDS at any given age were not observed. For example, the predicted values showed that children with the highest exposure (DDE: >9.00 μg/g) compared to those least exposed (DDE: <3.01 μg/g) grew similarly and they had a BMI SDS similar to the referent group. The results do not support the prior findings of an association of DDE exposure with childhood height or BMI.