Age at natural menopause and exposure to organochlorine pesticides in Hispanic women

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between exposure to selected organochlorine pesticides (OCP) (p,p'-DDT, p',p'-DDE, dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane [beta-HCH], oxychlordane, trans' nonachlor) and age at natural menopause in a sample of 219 menopausal women participating in the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 1982-1984. Information on age at menopause, reproductive history, demographic variables, and potential confounding variables was collected via interview. Analysis of variance was employed to compare adjusted mean age at natural menopause among women by category of serum OCP level. Serum levels of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, beta-HCH, and trans-nonachlor were associated with a younger age at menopause. In particular, women with exposure levels in the highest exposure categories (serum p,p'-DDT > or = 6ppb, beta-HCH > or = 4ppb, or trans-nonachlor > or = 2ppb) had an adjusted mean age at menopause on average 5.7, 3.4, and 5.2 yr earlier, respectively, than women with serum levels of these pesticides below the detection limit. Women with serum p,p'-DDE levels greater than 23.6 ppb (highest quintile) had an adjusted mean age at menopause 1.7 yr earlier than women with serump,p'-DDE levels less than 5.5 ppb (lowest quintile). However, no consistent dose-response effect was apparent across low, medium, and high exposure categories. Interactions were detected for p,p'-DDT in combination with beta-HCH, trans-nonachlor, or oxychlordane, as well as beta-HCH in combination with oxychlordane.