DDT in human milk and mental capacities in children at school age: an additional view on PISA 2000

Type Journal Article - Neuroendocrinology Letters
Title DDT in human milk and mental capacities in children at school age: an additional view on PISA 2000
Author(s)
Volume 23
Issue 5-6
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2002
Page numbers 427-431
URL https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andreas_Plagemann/publication/10975528_DDT_in_human_milk_and_me​ntal_capacities_in_children_at_school_age_an_additional_view_on_PISA_2000/links/53d7781f0cf29265323c​c680.pdf
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate a possible lasting impact of dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) exposure in neonatal life on mental capacities in later life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Relationships were evaluated by correlation and regression analysis between total DDT concentrations in human breast milk in the years of birth (1984/1985) and measurements of mental capacities obtained in pupils of the PISA 2000 studies as well as percentages of backward children in Germany in 1994/95. RESULTS: Comparing total DDT levels in human milk during the years of birth (1984/85) evaluable for eleven PISA countries with assessed mental capacities of 15-year-old pupils of PISA International, a signifi cant inverse correlation was found (p < 0.001), even after adjustment for socioeconomic statuses (p = 0.001). Furthermore, a signifi cant inverse correlation (p < 0.001) was also obtained between the total DDT concentrations in human milk in 1984/85 in ten foreign countries of three continents plus fourteen Federal States of Germany and the mental capacities of 15 year-old pupils of PISA International plus PISA National (Germany) 2000. Finally, a signifi cant positive correlation was observed between total DDT contents in human milk in 1984/85 and the percentages of backward school children in 1994/95 in Federal States of Germany (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data – in association with additional experimental and epidemiological fi ndings – suggest that DDT is a “neuroendocrine disrupter” as well as a “functional teratogen” leading to harmful effects on brain development and mental capacities in later life. Thus, a neuroendocrine prophylaxis during critical developmental periods in early life – as recommended by our group since many years – appears to be most important for primary preventive medicine but even for “preventive pedagogics”. The validity of these theses should be retested in future PISA studies.

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