Breast cancer risk assessment and its correlation with the residual level of DDT in blood and tissue of people of Bihar, India

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A study of breast cancer cases using hospital clinical data was conducted in the state of Bihar, India. It was found that in the past ten years breast cancer incidence increased cumulatively by 642%. In this investigation, the main emphasis has been given on breast cancer patients. Five districts (Khagaria, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Sitamarhi and Vaishal) in the state of Bihar were selected for residual DDT analysis in serum and tissue of a sample population. Pesticides were estimated by using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Total DDT level in serum samples ranged from 5 ppb to 25 ppb and in the tissue samples it ranged from 900 ppb to 4300 ppb. Maximum accumulated DDT residue in tissue was recorded in the district of Samastipur. Highest accumulation of pp’-DDE was found in the both serum and tissue samples followed by pp-DDT, op-DDT, and pp’-DDD. Increasing concentration of DDT residues in tissues was found to be directly proportional to the effect on oestrogen receptors in tissues. This study demonstrates that high accumulation of DDT or DDE and negative effects on oestrogen receptor is strongly correlated to carcinogenicity in breast cancer patients.

Authors: Nath, Akhileshwari; Singh, Jitendra Kumar; Kumar, Arun; Vendan, S. Ezhil ;Full Source: Elixir Online Journal [online computer file] 2011, (April), 2134-2137 (Eng) ;