| This cross-sectional study evaluated associations between exposure to organochlorine pesticides (ppDDT, DDE, dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane [beta-HCH], oxychlordane, trans-nonachlor) and farm work, with reproductive endpoints (spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, low birth weight, birth defects, age at menarche and menopause) in a sample of 1,599 Hispanic women participating in the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) in 1982--1984. Concentrations of the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were measured in serum and reproductive history information was collected via interview. Demographic and confounding variables evaluated were: age and season at the time serum sample drawn, Hispanic group, serum cholesterol, education, income, country of birth, smoking, alcohol consumption, living outside a central city area, Body Mass Index (BMI), parity, oral contraceptive use and diabetes.;A history of spontaneous abortion, low birth weight, having a child with a birth defect and age at menarche were not associated with detection in serum of any of the OCPs examined. The elevated risk found for ever having done farm work and stillbirth and low birth weight was modified by parity. The odds ratios for stillbirth and low birth weight and farm work among women with parity ≤3.0 were 3.80 (95% CI 1.34--11.54) and 2.67 (95% CI 1.46--4.86) respectively, and for women with parity >3.0 were 1.18 (95% CI 0.59--2.93) and 1.47 (95% CI 0.83--2.59), respectively. Farm work was also associated with ever having a child with a muscle, bone or joint defect (adjusted OR = 2.08; 95% CI 0.63--6.83) or a mouth defect (adjusted OR = 3.12; 95% CI 0.81--11.97).;Exposure to ppDDT, beta-HCH, and trans-nonachlor was associated with earlier age at menopause in a dose dependent manner. Analysis of variance showed women with serum DDT level ≥ 6.00 parts per billion (ppb), beta-HCH ≥ 4.0 ppb, or trans-nonachlor ≥ 2.00 ppb, had an adjusted mean age at menopause on average 5.65, 3.35, and 5.18 years earlier, respectively, than women with serum levels of these pesticides below the detection limit. Significant two-way interactions among the three significant OCPs were found and appeared to represent additive effects. Serum levels of dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene, and oxychlordane, or ever having done farm work, were not associated with age at menopause. |
