Determination of Environmental Exposure to DDT by Human Hair Analysis in Santos and Sao Vicente Estuary, Sao Paulo, Brazil

In 2009, human hair samples were collected in Brazilian sites historically contaminated with organochlorine to assess the level of contamination with DDT and its metabolites in local human populations (Santos and Sao Vicente Estuary - Sao . Paulo State). 122 hair samples from members of four contaminated community were collected (Piloes and Agua Fria, Cubatao Center, Continental Sao Vicente and Guaruja), along with one non-contaminated sample (Bertioga). DDT and its metabolites were detected in approximately 70.0% of the hair samples from all areas, and its concentrations ranged from 50.3 ng.g(-1) to 141.8 ng.g(-1) in Cubatao Center and Piloes and Agua Fria, respectively. The highest p,p'-DDT concentration was detected in Piloes and Agua Fria (134 ng.g(-1)) and, Cubatao Center (43.9 ng.g(-1)) exhibited the lowest concentration. There was not a clear association between the occurrence of evaluated diseases and DDT detection in hair. None of the locally produced groceries appeared to be risk factors for the presence of DDT in hair. However, DDT concentrations found in this study showed an increase of DDT available for human exposure. These results strengthen the evidence of current exposure routes between DDT and the population of the estuarine region; therefore, this issue deserves further investigation.