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Association between Organochlorine Pesticide Levels in Breast Milk and Their Effects on Female Reproduction in a Taiwanese Population

Author

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  • Men-Wen Chen

    (Emerging Compounds Research Center, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung County 912, Taiwan)

  • Harvey M. Santos

    (School of Chemical Biological, and materials Engineering and Sciences, Mapúa university, Muralla St., Intramuros, Manila 1002, Philippines)

  • Danielle E. Que

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City 701, Taiwan)

  • Yan-You Gou

    (Emerging Compounds Research Center, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung County 912, Taiwan
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Lemmuel L. Tayo

    (School of Chemical Biological, and materials Engineering and Sciences, Mapúa university, Muralla St., Intramuros, Manila 1002, Philippines)

  • Yi-Chyun Hsu

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Kun Shan University, Tainan City 710, Taiwan)

  • Young-Bin Chen

    (Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung County 912, Taiwan)

  • Fu-An Chen

    (Department of Pharmacy & Graduate, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, Pingtung 90741, Taiwan
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • How-Ran Chao

    (Emerging Compounds Research Center, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung County 912, Taiwan
    Institute of Food Safety Management, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung County 912, Taiwan
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Kuo-Lin Huang

    (Emerging Compounds Research Center, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung County 912, Taiwan
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Only few studies have focused on organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in breast milk and the related health risks for women in Taiwan. Our goal is to examine breast milk OCPs and their associations with female reproductive function (infertility, gynecological diseases, and menstruation characteristics) as well as their correlation with sociodemographic parameters (age, pre-pregnant body mass index (BMI), annual incomes, population, birth year, and parity) and dietary habit. The breast milk samples were collected in southern Taiwan ( n = 68) from 2013 to 2016 and the OCP residues were analyzed using high resolution gas chromatography with low resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/LRMS). The results show that the most abundant OCP residues in the breast milk was ΣDDT with the geometric mean ± standard deviation of 9.81 ± 7.52 ng −1 lipid −1 followed by ΣHCH (0.539 ± 0.557 ng −1 ·lipid −1 ). In the principal component analysis, cis- chlordane ( cis- CHL) and γ-HCH were found to be related to participants who received medical treatment for infertility, and 4,4′-DDT was associated with those who received gynecological surgery. The logistic regression showed that the odds ratio (OR) of log γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) was higher for mothers who had received medical treatment for infertility than for the normal group (OR = 25.6, p = 0.035) after adjustments for age, pre-pregnant BMI, annual income, population (i.e., native-born Taiwanese), birth year, and parity. Cow milk and beef consumption as well as menstruation characteristics such as average menstrual period (>5 days), shortest menstrual period (<3 days), and women who had taken hormonal drugs were significantly associated to several OCP residues in the breast milk. In addition, ΣHCH including β-HCH and γ-HCH was correlated with annual family income and gravidity as well as cow milk and beef consumptions. Overall, γ-HCH exhibited a probable association with the infertility diseases of Taiwanese women, and dietary habit might play an important role in the female Taiwanese exposure to OCPs.

Suggested Citation

  • Men-Wen Chen & Harvey M. Santos & Danielle E. Que & Yan-You Gou & Lemmuel L. Tayo & Yi-Chyun Hsu & Young-Bin Chen & Fu-An Chen & How-Ran Chao & Kuo-Lin Huang, 2018. "Association between Organochlorine Pesticide Levels in Breast Milk and Their Effects on Female Reproduction in a Taiwanese Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-22, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:5:p:931-:d:144959
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wen-Tien Tsai, 2010. "Current Status and Regulatory Aspects of Pesticides Considered to be Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-13, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thanawat Rattanawitoon & Wattasit Siriwong & Derek Shendell & Nancy Fiedler & Mark Gregory Robson, 2023. "An Evaluation of a Pesticide Training Program to Reduce Pesticide Exposure and Enhance Safety among Female Farmworkers in Nan, Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(17), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Cheng-Chih Kao & Danielle E. Que & Sayre J. Bongo & Lemmuel L. Tayo & Yi-Hsien Lin & Chun-Wen Lin & Sheng-Lun Lin & Yan-You Gou & Wen-Li Hsu & Cherng-Gueih Shy & Kuo-Lin Huang & Ming-Hsien Tsai & How-, 2019. "Residue Levels of Organochlorine Pesticides in Breast Milk and Its Associations with Cord Blood Thyroid Hormones and the Offspring’s Neurodevelopment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-19, April.

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