Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26079774›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2015

DDT Exposure in Utero and Breast Cancer.

Barbara A Cohn, Michele La Merrill, Nickilou Y Krigbaum, Gregory Yeh, June-Soo Park, Lauren Zimmermann, Piera M Cirillo

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 124 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
124citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
16.2field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

124 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 289 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. A Review of Biomonitoring for Atrazine and Atrazine Metabolites Using Blood, Urine, and Sweat-Based Assays.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
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  5. Endocrine Disruptors and Gynecological Malignancies.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Review
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  15. Father's occupation and colorectal cancer in his adult offspring.Journal of the National Cancer Institute · 2025
    Article
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Review
  19. Article
  20. Endocrine disruptors and pregnancy.Turkish journal of medical sciences · 2025
    Review

64 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Barbara A CohnChild Health and Development Studies (B.A.C., N.Y.K., L.Z., P.M.C.), Public Health Institute, Berkeley, California 94709; Department of Environmental Toxicology (M.L.M.), University of California, Davis, California 95616; Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (G.Y., J.-S.P.), California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, California 94710; and Public Health Institute (G.Y.), Oakland, California 94607.
Michele La MerrillChild Health and Development Studies (B.A.C., N.Y.K., L.Z., P.M.C.), Public Health Institute, Berkeley, California 94709; Department of Environmental Toxicology (M.L.M.), University of California, Davis, California 95616; Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (G.Y., J.-S.P.), California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, California 94710; and Public Health Institute (G.Y.), Oakland, California 94607.
Nickilou Y KrigbaumChild Health and Development Studies (B.A.C., N.Y.K., L.Z., P.M.C.), Public Health Institute, Berkeley, California 94709; Department of Environmental Toxicology (M.L.M.), University of California, Davis, California 95616; Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (G.Y., J.-S.P.), California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, California 94710; and Public Health Institute (G.Y.), Oakland, California 94607.
Gregory YehChild Health and Development Studies (B.A.C., N.Y.K., L.Z., P.M.C.), Public Health Institute, Berkeley, California 94709; Department of Environmental Toxicology (M.L.M.), University of California, Davis, California 95616; Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (G.Y., J.-S.P.), California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, California 94710; and Public Health Institute (G.Y.), Oakland, California 94607.
June-Soo ParkChild Health and Development Studies (B.A.C., N.Y.K., L.Z., P.M.C.), Public Health Institute, Berkeley, California 94709; Department of Environmental Toxicology (M.L.M.), University of California, Davis, California 95616; Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (G.Y., J.-S.P.), California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, California 94710; and Public Health Institute (G.Y.), Oakland, California 94607.
Lauren ZimmermannChild Health and Development Studies (B.A.C., N.Y.K., L.Z., P.M.C.), Public Health Institute, Berkeley, California 94709; Department of Environmental Toxicology (M.L.M.), University of California, Davis, California 95616; Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (G.Y., J.-S.P.), California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, California 94710; and Public Health Institute (G.Y.), Oakland, California 94607.
Piera M CirilloChild Health and Development Studies (B.A.C., N.Y.K., L.Z., P.M.C.), Public Health Institute, Berkeley, California 94709; Department of Environmental Toxicology (M.L.M.), University of California, Davis, California 95616; Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (G.Y., J.-S.P.), California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, California 94710; and Public Health Institute (G.Y.), Oakland, California 94607.
Berkeley Public Health Division · USCalifornia Department of Toxic Substances Control · USPublic Health Institute · USUniversity of California, Davis · US

Funding

CALIFORNIA COORDINATED CANCER PREVENTION & CONTROL PROGRAMU58DP003862 · DP · CALIFORNIA STATE DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH · PI SNIPES, KURT P · 2012 to 2014
$31.5M
Perinatal Exposure to Environmental DDT and Risk of Metabolic SyndromeR00ES019919 · NIEHS · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · PI LA MERRILL, MICHELE A · 2013 to 2015
$740k
NCCDPHP CDC HHS U58 DP003862NCCDPHP CDC HHS U58DP003862-01NCI NIH HHS HHSN261201000034CNCI NIH HHS HHSN261201000035CNCI NIH HHS HHSN261201000035INCI NIH HHS HHSN261201000140CNICHD NIH HHS HHSN275201100020CNIEHS NIH HHS R00 ES019919
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

contextCurrently no direct evidence links in utero dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) exposure to human breast cancer. However, in utero exposure to another xenoestrogen, diethylstilbestrol, predicts an increased breast cancer risk. If this finding extends to DDT, it could have far-reaching consequences. Many women were heavily exposed in utero during widespread DDT use in the 1960s. They are now reaching the age of heightened breast cancer risk. DDT exposure persists and use continues in Africa and Asia without clear knowledge of the consequences for the next generation. HYPOTHESIS: In utero exposure to DDT is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

designThis was a case-control study nested in a prospective 54-year follow-up of 9300 daughters in the Child Health and Development Studies pregnancy cohort (n = 118 breast cancer cases, diagnosed by age 52 y and 354 controls matched on birth year). SETTING AND

participantsKaiser Foundation Health Plan members who received obstetric care in Alameda County, California, from 1959 to 1967, and their adult daughters participated in the study.

main outcome measureDaughters' breast cancer diagnosed by age 52 years as of 2012 was measured.

resultsMaternal o,p'-DDT predicted daughters' breast cancer (odds ratio fourth quartile vs first = 3.7, 95% confidence interval 1.5-9.0). Mothers' lipids, weight, race, age, and breast cancer history did not explain the findings.

conclusionsThis prospective human study links measured DDT exposure in utero to risk of breast cancer. Experimental studies are essential to confirm results and discover causal mechanisms. Findings support classification of DDT as an endocrine disruptor, a predictor of breast cancer, and a marker of high risk.

Indexed as

AdultAdult ChildrenBreast NeoplasmsCase-Control StudiesDDTEnvironmental ExposureFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansInfant, NewbornMiddle AgedNeoplasm StagingPregnancyPrenatal Exposure Delayed EffectsPrognosisYoung AdultDDTo,p'-DDT

Identifiers

PMID26079774
PMCPMC4524999
OpenAlexW1934666423

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.