Chlordecone exposure and adverse effects in French West Indies populations

International audienceChlordecone (Kepone) is an organochlorine insecticide that has been used as insecticide and fungicide. In the French West Indies, Guadeloupe and Martinique, it was intensively applied to banana fields from 1973 to 1993 to control root borers. This pesticide undergoes no significant biotic or abiotic degradation in the environment and is still present in soils where it was applied. It was only in 1999 that health and environmental authorities became aware of the extent of the chlordecone pollution of environmental media, including soils, waterways, and the food chain. Earlier observations and toxicological studies have demonstrated that chlordecone is a reproductive and developmental toxicant, neurotoxic and carcinogenic in rodents, and is an endocrine-disrupting chemical because of its estrogenic properties both in vitro and in vivo. Several surveys have confirmed that the French West Indian population continues to be exposed to this chemical though consumption of contaminated foodstuffs. Here, we report the findings of various epidemiological studies conducted in the French West Indies to assess the impact of environmental exposure to chlordecone on the health of the population

Pesticide exposure of pregnant women in Guadeloupe: Ability of a food frequency questionnaire to estimate blood concentration of chlordecone

Context Chlordecone, an environmentally persistent organochlorine insecticide used intensively in banana culture in the French West Indies until 1993, has permanently polluted soils and contaminated foodstuffs. Consumption of contaminated food is the main source of exposure nowadays. We sought to identify main contributors to blood chlordecone concentration (BCC) and to validate an exposure indicator based on food intakes.Material and methods We used a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) completed by a sample of 194 pregnant women to estimate their dietary exposure to chlordecone and compared it to blood levels. In a first approach, chlordecone daily intake was estimated as the product of daily eaten quantity of 214 foodstuffs, multiplied by their chlordecone content, and summed over all items. We then predicted individual blood chlordecone concentration with empirical weight regression models based on frequency of food consumption, and without contamination data.Results Among the 191 subjects who had BCC determination, 146 (76%) had detectable values and mean BCC was 0.86†ng/mL (range < LOD-13.2). Mean per capita dietary intake of chlordecone was estimated at 3.3†[mu]g/day (range: 0.1-22.2). Blood chlordecone levels were significantly correlated with food exposure predicted from the empirical weight models (r=0.47, p<0.0001) and, to a lesser extent, with chlordecone intake estimated from food consumption and food contamination data (r=0.20, p=0.007). Main contributors to chlordecone exposure included seafood, root vegetables, and Cucurbitaceous.Conclusion These results show that the Timoun FFQ provides valid estimates of chlordecone exposure. Estimates from empirical weight models correlated better with blood levels of chlordecone than did estimates from the dietary intake assessment

Parallel assessment of male reproductive function in workers and wild rats exposed to pesticides in banana plantations in Guadeloupe

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is increasing evidence that reproductive abnormalities are increasing in frequency in both human population and among wild fauna. This increase is probably related to exposure to toxic contaminants in the environment. The use of sentinel species to raise alarms relating to human reproductive health has been strongly recommended. However, no simultaneous studies at the same site have been carried out in recent decades to evaluate the utility of wild animals for monitoring human reproductive disorders. We carried out a joint study in Guadeloupe assessing the reproductive function of workers exposed to pesticides in banana plantations and of male wild rats living in these plantations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study was performed to assess semen quality and reproductive hormones in banana workers and in men working in non-agricultural sectors. These reproductive parameters were also assessed in wild rats captured in the plantations and were compared with those in rats from areas not directly polluted by humans.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No significant difference in sperm characteristics and/or hormones was found between workers exposed and not exposed to pesticide. By contrast, rats captured in the banana plantations had lower testosterone levels and gonadosomatic indices than control rats.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Wild rats seem to be more sensitive than humans to the effects of pesticide exposure on reproductive health. We conclude that the concept of sentinel species must be carefully validated as the actual nature of exposure may varies between human and wild species as well as the vulnerable time period of exposure and various ecological factors.</p

Fécondité et carnaval en Guadeloupe (impact de la grève générale de 2009)

Les indices de fécondité d une population sont variables au cours du temps. Ces variations pouvant prendre un rythme annuel, on parle alors de saisonnalité. Cette dernière peut être modifiée par des évènements ponctuels. La période carnavalesque est supposée être une période d augmentation de la fécondité. Nous avons voulu démontrer ce lien en Guadeloupe, en utilisant comme modèle l annulation de l activité carnavalesque consécutive aux mouvements sociaux dits du LKP en 2009. Nous avons mené une étude rétrospective à la maternité du CHU Pointe-à-Pitre / Abymes portant sur toutes les conceptions entre 1er janvier 2007 et le 31 décembre 2010. Le critère de jugement était le taux hebdomadaire de conceptions pendant et en dehors du carnaval. Il y avait significativement plus de conceptions durant la période carnavalesque. L absence de carnaval en 2009 a supprimé cet accroissement. Cette augmentation des conceptions concernait autant les grossesses désirées ou acceptées que celles qui ne l étaient pas. Par ailleurs, ce phénomène n a pas été retrouvé pour es autres périodes festives ou de vacances. Notre étude a démontré le lien entre activités carnavalesques et augmentation des conceptions. Cette période serait donc propice aux campagnes de prévention contre les infections sexuellement transmissibles et les grossesses non désirées. Elle pourrait permettre une réflexion sur l adéquation temporaire des moyens humains et matériels à l augmentation prévisible d activité dans les maternités du département.ABYMES-CHRUPPA-BU (971202102) / SudocSudocFranceF

Adolescence et maternité en Guadeloupe (état des lieux 16 ans après)

Introduction : En Guadeloupe, le taux de fécondité des adolescentes est supérieur à celui de métropole. Le but de notre travail était d analyser les caractéristiques sociodémographiques et les indicateurs de périnatalité chez les gestantes mineures dans notre maternité, et de les comparer à ceux d une étude réalisée en 1993-1994 dans le même établissement. Matériel et Méthode : Les données démographiques, médicales, obstétricales, néonatales et psycho-sociales de 163 mineures ayant accouché en 2009 et 2010 au CHRU de Pointe à Pitre/Abymes ont été recueillies rétrospectivement, et comparées à la précédente étude. Résultats : En seize ans, si les indicateurs de périnatalité n ont pas significativement évolué, les caractéristiques sociodémographiques de cette population se sont modifiées. De plus, le suivi obstétrical encore insuffisant et d initiation trop tardive, semble être lié à une morbidité néonatale accrue. Conclusion : Nos résultats sont proches de ceux décrits dans d autres régions françaises. Les différences retrouvées pour les risques obstétricaux et périnatals semblent être liées en partie aux facteurs socio-économiques et psychologiques entourant ces gestantes mineures. Ces derniers devraient être pris en compte dans toute démarche de prévention du nombre et des complications des grossesses chez les mineures.Introduction : In Guadeloupe (French West Indies) , the fecundity of teenage girls is higher than in mainland France. The aim of our study was to analyze sociodemographic characteristic and prenatal indicators among underage women and to compare them to those of a previous study conducted in our hospital during 1993-1994.Material and method : The sociodemographic, medical, obstetrical and neonatal data of 163 underage pregnants women delivered from 2009 to 2010 in the uniiversity hospital of Pointe A Pitre/Abymes, were collected restrospectively and compared to a previous study. Results : In sixteen years, if perinatal indicators do not evolve significantly, the socioeconomic characteristics of the population will be modified. Additionally, the high level of neonatal morbidity seems to be related to late onset of initial medical care and insufficient obstetrical monitoring. Conclusion : Our results are close to those described in others french s regions. The differences found in obstetrical and perinatal risks seem to be related to the socioeconomic characteristics surrounding these underage pregnancies. These should be considered in any approach aiming to prevent complications and reduce the numbers of pregnancies among teenage womenABYMES-CHRUPPA-BU (971202102) / SudocSudocFranceF

Incidence et mortalité des cancers gynécologiques en Guadeloupe [Incidence and mortality of gynaecological cancers in Guadeloupe (French West Indies)]

International audienceThe principal gynaecological cancers (breast, ovary, uterus, and cervix) account for over 40% of cancers found in women worldwide. However, large differences exist, in both their incidence and geographical distribution. The French West Indies, through their location, environment, socio-economic development, lifestyle, nutrition and the origins of their populations, constitute territories with a very particular character in the heart of the Caribbean. These characteristics have an impact on public health and can affect the incidence of tumours. We report for the first time the incidence of these major gynaecological cancers in Guadeloupe. Breast, ovary and uterine cancers have lower incidences in Guadeloupe than in mainland France. By contrast, cervical cancer is more frequent in Guadeloupe than in mainland France. The mortality rates associated with breast cancer, ovary and uterine cancer are also lower in Guadeloupe than in mainland France, whereas the opposite pattern is observed for cervical cancer. These observations may be accounted for in part by a difference in the prevalence of established or suspected risk factors for each of these types of cancer