Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene

Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene
Names
IUPAC name
1,1-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethene
Other names
Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene
Identifiers
72-55-9 YesY
Abbreviations p,p'-DDE
ChEBI CHEBI:16598 YesY
ChEMBL ChEMBL363207 YesY
ChemSpider 2927 YesY
Jmol interactive 3D Image
KEGG C04596 YesY
PubChem 3035
Properties
C14H8Cl4
Molar mass 318.02 g/mol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
YesY verify (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) is a chemical compound formed by the loss of hydrogen chloride (dehydrohalogenation) from DDT, of which it is one of the more common breakdown products.[1] Due to DDT’s massive prevalence in society and agriculture during the mid 20th century, DDT and DDE are still widely seen in animal tissue samples.[2] DDE is particularly dangerous because it is fat-soluble like other organochlorines, thus it is rarely excreted from the body and concentrations tend to increase throughout life. The major exception is the excretion of DDE in breast milk, which delivers a substantial portion of the mother's DDE burden to the young animal or child.[3] Along with accumulation over an organism's life, this stability leads to bioaccumulation in the environment which amplifies DDE’s negative effects.

Synthesis

DDE is created by dehydrohalogenation of DDT. The loss of HCl results in a double bond on the central (previously quaternary) carbon atoms.

Degradation of DDT to form DDE by an elimination of HCl

Toxicity

DDE has been shown to be toxic to rats at 79.6 mg/kg.[4] DDE and its parent, DDT, are reproductive toxicants for certain birds species, and major reasons for the decline of the bald eagle,[5] brown pelican[6] peregrine falcon, and osprey.[7] These compounds cause egg shell thinning in susceptible species, which leads to the birds’ crushing their eggs instead of incubating them, due to the latter’s lack of resistance.[8] Birds of prey, waterfowl, and song birds are more susceptible to eggshell thinning than chickens and related species, and DDE appears to be more potent than DDT.[7]

Mechanism

The biological mechanism for the thinning is not entirely known, but it is believed that p,p'-DDE impairs the shell gland's ability to excrete calcium carbonate onto the developing egg.[7][9][10][11][12] Multiple mechanisms may be at work, or different mechanisms may operate in different species.[7] Some studies have shown that although DDE levels have fallen dramatically, eggshell thickness remains 1012 percent thinner than before DDT was first used.[13]

Some studies have indicated that DDE is an endocrine disruptor[14] and contributes to breast cancer, but more recent studies provide strong evidence that there is no relationship between DDE exposure and breast cancer.[15] What is more clear is that DDE is a weak androgen receptor antagonist and can produce male genital tract abnormalities.[16][17]

Animal studies show that organochlorine pesticides—such as DDE—are neurotoxic, cause oxidative stress, and damage the brain's dopaminergic system.[18]

See Also

DDT, pesticide, bioaccumulation, birds of prey, endocrine disruptor, endocrine system, neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, dopamine

References

  1. ATSDR - Public Health Statement: DDT, DDE, and DDD
  2. Pesticide Residues in Foods, Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene Content in Prepared Foods
  3. Breast milk excretion Kinetic of b-HCH, pp'DDE and pp'DDT. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2009 Dec;83(6):869-73
  4. NIST DDE MSDS
  5. Stokstad, E (2007). "Species conservation. Can the bald eagle still soar after it is delisted?". Science 316 (5832): 1689–90. doi:10.1126/science.316.5832.1689. PMID 17588911.
  6. "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Petition Finding and Proposed Rule To Remove the Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Proposed Rule," Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, February 20, 2008. 73 FR 9407
  7. 1 2 3 4 ATSDR - Toxicological Profile: DDT, DDE, DDD
  8. California Wild Spring 1994 - Peregrine Falcons
  9. Recovery Plan for the California Condor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, April 1996, page 23
  10. DDE concentration and percent eggshell thinning in Double-crested Conmorant eggs(North Channel, Lake Huron, Ont.)
  11. Guillette, Louis J., Jr. (2006). "Endocrine Disrupting Contaminants" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-02-02.
  12. Lundholm, C.E. (1997). "DDE-Induced eggshell thinning in birds". Comp Biochem Physiol C Pharmacol Toxicol Endocrinol 118 (2): 113–28. doi:10.1016/S0742-8413(97)00105-9. PMID 9490182.
  13. Division of Environmental Quality
  14. Chemical fact sheet: Organochlorine - The Breast Cancer Fund
  15. Questions about Endocrine Disruptors
  16. Longnecker, M. P.; Gladen, B. C.; Cupul-Uicab, L. A.; Romano-Riquer, S. P.; Weber, J.-P.; Chapin, R. E.; Hernandez-Avila, M. (2007). "In utero exposure to the antiandrogen 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) in relation to anogenital distance in male newborns from Chiapas, México". American Journal of Epidemiology 165 (9): 1015–22. doi:10.1093/aje/kwk109. PMC 1852527. PMID 17272288.
  17. Hejmej, Anna; Kotula-Balak, Magorzata; Bilinsk, Barbara (2011). "Antiandrogenic and Estrogenic Compounds: Effect on Development and Function of Male Reproductive System". doi:10.5772/28538.
  18. Pesticide Exposure Linked to Parkinson's, Alzheimer's Disease


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