Objective: 

The main objective of the current study was to investigate relations of different groups of organochlorines with serum lipid fractions.

Methods: 

Blood samples, obtained from 760 Caucasian and African-American residents of Anniston, AL, were analyzed for 35 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, 9 pesticides and serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins (HDL), and low density lipoproteins (LDL). Serum level of total lipids was estimated by mathematical equation. Multiple linear regressions and Student's t-test were used to analyze the data.

Results: 

Serum levels of total PCBs and pesticides each showed positive correlation with the serum level of total lipids, total cholesterol and triglycerides, but not LDL nor HDL. For those on lipid lowering medication, the relation with cholesterol and organochlorines disappeared but that for triglycerides did not. Analyses with smaller grouping of the organochlorines showed that 1) serum levels of total lipids were positively correlated with serum levels of tri- and tetra-ortho PCBs, total chlordane, mirex, and hexachlorbenzene (HCB); 2) serum levels of total cholesterol were positively correlated with serum levels of mirex and HCB; 3) serum levels of triglycerides were positively correlated with the serum level of total chlordane and HCB; 4) elevation of the serum level of HDL was associated only with elevated serum levels of mono-ortho PCBs; and 5) serum levels of LDL were positively correlated with the serum level of HCB.

Conclusions: 

These results indicate that serum levels of total lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides are elevated in relation to serum concentration of PCBs and pesticides.