Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Serum levels of Organochlorine Pesticides and Breast Cancer Risk in Iranian Women

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Breast cancer is a multifactorial disease and its etiology is linked to multiple risk factors. There are shreds of controversial evidence that exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are important in the etiology of breast cancer. The present study aimed to determine the circulating levels of OCPs in patients with breast tumors in Southeastern of Iran. This case–control study included 27 patients with malignant breast tumors (MBT), 31 patients with benign breast tumors (BBT), and 27 healthy women as a control group. Serum OCPs levels, including α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), β-HCH, γ-HCH, 2,4-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (2,4-DDT), 4,4-DDT, 2,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (2,4-DDE), and 4,4-DDE, were measured using gas chromatography. Our data revealed significantly higher concentrations of 2,4-DDT in MBT and BBT groups compared with control ones (P < 0.001 for both comparisons). Patients with breast cancer suffered significantly higher accumulation levels of 4,4-DDE compared with control subjects (P = 0.04). Significant correlations were found among organochlorine compounds with each other in both patients’ groups. There was a significant positive correlation between body mass index and serum levels of 2,4-DDT in BBT group (r = 0.407, P = 0.02). The present findings suggest that the serum levels of 4,4-DDE and 2,4-DDT are associated with an increase in the risk of breast cancer in Southeastern women of Iran.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abolhassani M, Asadikaram G, Paydar P, Fallah H, Aghaee-Afshar M, Moazed V, Moradi A (2019) Organochlorine and organophosphorous pesticides may induce colorectal cancer: a case–control study. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 178:168–177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arzi L, Nazari KZ, Arzi A (2009) Comparison of the organochlorine pesticide residue levels among Benni fish of Shadegan, Mahshahr and Susangerd cities, Khouzestan Province, Iran. Toxicol Lett 189:207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Attaullah M, Yousuf MJ, Shaukat S, Anjum SI, Ansari MJ, Buneri ID, Khan SU (2018) Serum organochlorine pesticides residues and risk of cancer: a case–control study. Saudi J Biol Sci 25(7):1284–1290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bayat S, Sari AE, Bahramifar N, Younesi H, Behrooz RD (2011) Survey of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in commercial pasteurized milk in Iran. Environ Monitor Assess 175(1–4):469–474

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Behrooz RD, Barghi M, Bahramifar N, Esmaili-Sari A (2012) Organochlorine contaminants in the hair of Iranian pregnant women. Chemosphere 86(3):235–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boada LD, Zumbado M, Henríquez-Hernández LA, Almeida-González M, Álvarez-León EE, Serra-Majem L, Luzardo OP (2012) Complex organochlorine pesticide mixtures as determinant factor for breast cancer risk: a population-based case–control study in the Canary Islands (Spain). Environ Health 11(1):1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-11-28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bratton MR, Frigo DE, Segar HC, Nephew KP, McLachlan JA, Wiese TE, Burow ME (2012) The organochlorine o, p’-DDT plays a role in coactivator-mediated MAPK crosstalk in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Environ Health Perspect 120(9):1291–1296. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bretveld RW, Thomas CMG, Scheepers PTJ, Zielhuis GA, Roeleveld N (2006) Pesticide exposure: The hormonal function of the female reproductive system disrupted? Reprod Biol Endocrinol 4(1):30–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter DO (2013) Effects of persistent and bioactive organic pollutants on human health. Wiley, Hoboken

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cok I, Karakaya AE, Afkham BL, Burgaz S (1999) Organochlorine pesticide contaminants in human milk samples collected in Tebriz (Iran). Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 63(4):444–450

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ellsworth RE, Kostyniak PJ, Chi L, Shriver CD, Costantino NS, Ellsworth DL (2018) Organochlorine pesticide residues in human breast tissue and their relationships with clinical and pathological characteristics of breast cancer. Environ Toxicol 33:876–884

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farhood B, Geraily G, Alizadeh A (2018) Incidence and Mortality of various cancers in Iran and compare to other countries: a review article. Iran J Public Health 47(3):309–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Hashemy-Tonkabony SE, Soleimani-Amiri MJ (1978) Chlorinated pesticide residues in the body fat of people in Iran. Environ Res 16(1–3):419–422

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He T-T, Zuo A-J, Wang J-G, Zhao P (2017) Organochlorine pesticides accumulation and breast cancer: a hospital-based case–control study. Tumor Biol 39(5):1–6. https://doi.org/10.1177/1010428317699114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ingber SZ, Buser MC, Pohl HR, Abadin HG, Murray HE, Scinicariello F (2013) DDT/DDE and breast cancer: a meta-analysis. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 67(3):421–433

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Itoh H, Iwasaki M, Hanaoka T, Kasuga Y, Yokoyama S, Onuma H, Tsugane S (2009) Serum organochlorines and breast cancer risk in Japanese women: a case–control study. Cancer Causes Control 20(5):567–580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jayaraj R, Megha P, Sreedev P (2016) Organochlorine pesticides, their toxic effects on living organisms and their fate in the environment. Interdisciplinary Toxicology 9(3–4):90–100. https://doi.org/10.1515/intox-2016-0012

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson NA, Ho A, Cline JM, Hughes CL, Foster WG, Davis VL (2012) Accelerated mammary tumor onset in a HER2/Neu mouse model exposed to DDT metabolites locally delivered to the mammary gland. Environ Health Perspect 120(8):1170–1176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kamińska M, Ciszewski T, Łopacka-Szatan K, Miotła P, Starosławska E (2015) Breast cancer risk factors. Przeglad Menopauzalny 14(3):196–202. https://doi.org/10.5114/pm.2015.54346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lind PM, Salihovic S, Lind L (2018) High plasma organochlorine pesticide levels are related to increased biological age as calculated by DNA methylation analysis. Environ Int 113:109–113

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Carrillo L, Lopez-Cervantes M, Torres-Sanchez L, Blair A, Cebrian ME, Garcia RM (2002) Serum levels of beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, hexachlorobenzene and polychlorinated biphenyls and breast cancer in Mexican women. Eur J Cancer Prev (ECP) 11(2):129–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mathur V, Bhatnagar P, Sharma RG, Acharya V, Sexana R (2002) Breast cancer incidence and exposure to pesticides among women originating from Jaipur. Environ Int 28(5):331–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mortazavi N, Asadikaram G, Ebadzadeh M, Kamalati A, Pakmanesh H, Dadgar R, Abolhassani M (2019) Organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides and bladder cancer: a case–control study. J Cell Biochem 2019:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Mrema EJ, Rubino FM, Brambilla G, Moretto A, Tsatsakis AM, Colosio C (2013) Persistent organochlorinated pesticides and mechanisms of their toxicity. Toxicology 307:74–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2012.11.015

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park J-H, Cha ES, Ko Y, Hwang M-S, Hong J-H, Lee WJ (2014) Exposure to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and the risk of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Osong Public Health Res Perspect 5(2):77–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrp.2014.02.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paydar P, Asadikaram G, Zeynali Nejad H, Moazed V, Poursayedi B, Nematollahi MH, Khosravi Shadmani F (2018) The role of acetylcholinesterase, paraoxonase, and oxidative stress in breast tumors. Int J Cancer Manag 11(11):1–8. https://doi.org/10.5812/ijcm.83370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paydar P, Asadikaram G, Nejad HZ, Akbari H, Abolhassani M, Moazed V, Fallah H (2019) Epigenetic modulation of BRCA-1 and MGMT genes, and histones H4 and H3 are associated with breast tumors. J Cell Biochem 2019:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcb.28645

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pirsaheb M, Limoee M, Namdari F, Khamutian R (2015) Organochlorine pesticides residue in breast milk: a systematic review. Med J Islam Repub Iran 29(1):1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Porta M (2012) Human contamination by environmental chemical pollutants: Can we assess it more properly? Prev Med 55(6):560–562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers KM, Udesky JO, Rudel RA, Brody JG (2018) Environmental chemicals and breast cancer: an updated review of epidemiological literature informed by biological mechanisms. Environ Res 160:152–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.045

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romieu I, Hernandez-Avila M, Lazcano-Ponce E, Weber JP, Dewailly E (2000) Breast cancer, lactation history, and serum organochlorines. Am J Epidemiol 152(4):363–370. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/152.4.363

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siegel RL, Miller KD, Jemal A (2018) Cancer statistics, 2018. CA Cancer J Clin 68(1):7–30. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong MH, Armour M-A, Naidu R, Man M (2012) Persistent toxic substances: sources, fates and effects. Rev Environ Health 27:207–213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang J-H, Lee Y-M, Bae S-G, Jacobs DR Jr, Lee D-H (2012) Associations between organochlorine pesticides and vitamin D deficiency in the US population. PLoS ONE 7(1):1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang J-Z, Wang Z-X, Ma L-H, Shen X-B, Sun Y, Hu D-W, Sun L-X (2015) The organochlorine pesticides residues in the invasive ductal breast cancer patients. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 40(3):698–703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2015.07.007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zumbado M, Goethals M, Álvarez-León EE, Luzardo OP, Cabrera F, Serra-Majem L, Domínguez-Boada L (2005) Inadvertent exposure to organochlorine pesticides DDT and derivatives in people from the Canary Islands (Spain). Sci Total Environ 339(1–3):49–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.07.022

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to all participants in the present study who kindly donated blood samples and their time. This study was supported by a grant from Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran (Grant No.: 94/413) and is a part of a Ph.D. thesis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Parisa Paydar

  2. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Parisa Paydar, Gholamreza Asadikaram, Hossein Fallah & Moslem Abolhassani

  3. Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Gholamreza Asadikaram

  4. Physiology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Hossein Fallah

  5. Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Hamid Zeynali Nejad

  6. Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Hamed Akbari

  7. Department of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Vahid Moazed

  8. Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Payam Khazaeli & Mahmoud Reza Heidari

Authors
  1. Parisa Paydar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gholamreza Asadikaram
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hossein Fallah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hamid Zeynali Nejad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hamed Akbari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Moslem Abolhassani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Vahid Moazed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Payam Khazaeli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Mahmoud Reza Heidari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gholamreza Asadikaram.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Paydar, P., Asadikaram, G., Fallah, H. et al. Serum levels of Organochlorine Pesticides and Breast Cancer Risk in Iranian Women. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 77, 480–489 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-019-00648-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-019-00648-3

Search

Navigation