Organochlorine pesticide residues in human breast milk from southwest Greece: associations with weekly food consumption patterns of mothers.

Breast milk samples were collected from 112 mothers who resided in southwest Greece during the years 1995-1997. The following chemicals, which were present in some of the milk samples, were quantified by gas chromatography: residues of lindane (i.e., alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane [BHC], beta-BHC, gamma-BHC), delta-BHC, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p-DDE), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p'-DDD, and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p'-DDT). With the assistance of a qualified dietitian, the mothers also completed a 7-d food-frequency questionnaire and provided additional personal information (e.g., educational level, profession, previous or present residence, use of pesticides, treatment of dermal scabies). Concentrations of gamma-BHC (i.e., lindane) were present in 57.1% of the samples (mean concentration = 0.58 microg/l [whole milk], range = nondetectable to 10.86 microg/l). Concentrations of alpha-BHC, beta-BHC, delta-BHC, p,p'-DDD, and p,p'-DDT were detected in 16%, 39.3%, 11.6%, 41%, and 55.3% of the samples, respectively. Moreover, p,p'-DDE, which was detected in all samples, ranged from 0.33 to 278 microg/l. Typically, the amounts of gamma-BHC and sigma-DDTs in breast milk were below the established acceptable daily intake value. Nonetheless, 3 of the 112 samples contained concentrations of sigma-DDT derivatives that exceeded the acceptable daily intake value established by the World Health Organisation in 1987. Concentrations of insecticides in breast milk were affected by dietary habits. Some women who consumed 7 (or more) portions of fresh vegetables per week had gamma-BHC concentrations in whole milk that exceeded 0.15 microg/l (odds ratio = 1.23 [95% confidence interval = 1.05, 1.44]; p = .006). The concentrations of DDT derivatives were associated with the portions of fish, chicken, fruits, milk, and potatoes consumed each week.

Anticardiolipin antibodies levels in healthy pregnant and non-pregnant woman.

To determine the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies in healthy non pregnant women and during normal pregnancy, 110 healthy women of mean age 25 years old and 53 healthy pregnant females of mean age 24.5 years old, who no one suffered from any autoimmune disease, were studied. In all women the anticardiolipin antibodies were measured in duplicate by the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). There was no difference in the percentage of the positive anticardiolipin antibodies between non pregnant and pregnant healthy women (9.1% and 5.6% respectively). Also, there was no difference in the antibodies levels during normal pregnancy, as well as, during an equal time of observation in non pregnant women. The positive anticardiolipin antibodies levels were low.

Plasma retinol and tocopherol levels in greek elderly population from an urban and a rural area: associations with the dietary habits.

Data on plasma concentrations of retinol and alpha-tocopherol in elderly (over 65 years) living in the Mediterranean countries are sparse. In the current study, plasma retinol and alpha-tocopherol concentrations were determined in 200 healthy subjects (82 men and 112 women) residing in an urban and in a rural area in South Western Greece. High prevalence of low plasma retinol concentration was observed for both sexes in each area. The 16.7% of males in urban and 25.4% in rural area had plasma retinol levels below 0.3 mg/l. The corresponding values for female subjects were 26% and 20.3%. Plasma alpha-tocopherol was found to be within normal range in the rural area (only one male had plasma alpha-tocopherol below 5 mg/l) while in the urban area 68.3% of men and 62% of women had plasma alpha-tocopherol values below 5 mg/l. Differences in dietary habits between subjects living in the rural and in the urban area were revealed through a weekly food frequency questionnaire. This could partly explain the difference in alpha-tocopherol concentrations between the two areas. The results of this study revealed high risk of vitamin A and E deficiency and suggests that the health care system in Greece should pay more attention on the social and health status of its elderly population.