Premium
Human serum ddt levels related to consumption of fish from the coastal waters of los angeles
Author(s) -
Gossett Richard,
Wikholm Gary,
Ljubenkov John,
Steinman David
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620081014
Subject(s) - pesticide , fish consumption , fish <actinopterygii> , wet weight , zoology , body weight , biology , toxicology , fishery , ecology , endocrinology
Fish from Los Angeles County coastal waters contain high concentrations of the banned pesticide DDT, its metabolites DDE and DDD, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The most popular sportfish caught from piers in southern California (comprising 30% of the catch), white croaker ( Genyonemus lineatus ), contains total DDT levels above the Federal Drug Administration guideline (5 mg/kg wet weight) in edible tissue at 7.6 mg/kg wet weight total DDT. We quantified blood serum levels of DDTs and PCBs in 16 subjects who consumed locally caught sportfish at least three times a week for 3 years and compared them with those in nine control subjects who consumed little or no local fish. No subjects or controls had other known significant exposures to DDT and its metabolites. The consumers of locally caught sportfish had significantly higher serum levels of total DDT (mean 35 ng/ml) than did nonconsumers (mean 7 ng/ml). Within the consumer groups, serum levels of 4,4′‐DDE and fish consumption history were significantly correlated.