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2015 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

ベクターコントロールによる有機塩素系農薬汚染が家畜・ヒトに及ぼす毒性影響の解明

Research Project

Project/Area Number 15J02013
Research InstitutionHokkaido University

Principal Investigator

THOMPSON LESA  北海道大学, 獣医学研究科, 特別研究員(DC1)

Project Period (FY) 2015-04-24 – 2018-03-31
KeywordsDDT / Free-ranging chickens / Human health risk / Indoor residual spraying / South Africa
Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Insecticides such as DDT are useful in many ways; one important way is by spraying homes to help control diseases transmitted by insects. To better understand the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs, of which DDT is one) contaminating foods, I performed a literature review. This focused on reports in peer-reviewed periods over a 15 year period, analysing pesticide levels in both different foods and in people in African countries. This showed many foods are contaminated by OCPs. I have submitted this review for peer-reviewed publication.
My main aim in the research project this year was to collect and analyse chemical concentrations from field samples. In the study area in South Africa, DDT and other insecticides are regularly applied to homes (as “indoor residual spraying”). These chemicals are highly persistence in the environment and have been shown to be taken up and accumulate in animals, including livestock. My analysis showed high levels of DDT and its metabolites in free-ranging chicken and eggs from the area.
Questionnaires with local people enabled me to estimate daily consumption of chicken meat and eggs. By knowing the concentrations of DDT and its metabolites in the products, and considering their daily consumption, I was able to calculate the potential health risk from eating these foods. For both meat and eggs, free-ranging foodstuffs were shown to contain levels of DDTs that are a potential carcinogenic health risk to people eating them. However, commercially produced chicken products do not have this increased risk.

Current Status of Research Progress
Current Status of Research Progress

1: Research has progressed more than it was originally planned.

Reason

Completion of a substantial literature review has highlighted both problem areas and gaps in our knowledge. This review has also given me a good understanding of the topic, and should also be useful to policy makers who need to consider the benefits of using chemicals and the risks associated with food contamination.
Initial analysis of field samples from an area in South Africa using DDT routinely to control malaria shows a potential health risk to local people from eating free-ranging chicken products. From this information, we can suggest that policy makers advise people to reduce consumption of these and ideally substituting with commercial products.
Gene expression analysis of field samples is underway. Microarray analysis of two samples (considered from chemical analysis results to have “low” and “high” contamination levels of DDT) has been performed. Meanwhile, I have also conducted an in vivo exposure study and administering p,p’-DDT to chicks and collecting samples at various time points.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

I will continue analysis of data obtained from field sample microarrays. This will be complemented by similar data from the in vivo study, along with PCR validation of results in other samples from both the field and laboratory studies. Analysis of samples collected during the laboratory exposure study will be performed in the next year of my research.
I will next prepare a manuscript on the contamination of chicken products in my study area in South Africa. This will include a health risk assessment for people consuming the products.
During this year, I will also perform collaborative research with a laboratory at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, at Professor Yamamoto’s “cell signalling” laboratory. A link between DDT and cancer has been proposed but the mechanism has not been elucidated. My research will focus on the biological effects of DDT and close analogue, β-estradiol, on cancer cells in culture.

  • Research Products

    (9 results)

All 2015 Other

All Int'l Joint Research (2 results) Journal Article (1 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 1 results,  Peer Reviewed: 1 results,  Open Access: 1 results,  Acknowledgement Compliant: 1 results) Presentation (4 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 3 results,  Invited: 1 results) Remarks (1 results) Funded Workshop (1 results)

  • [Int'l Joint Research] University of Johannesburg/North West University/BioAssets Consultants(South Africa)

    • Country Name
      South Africa
    • Counterpart Institution
      University of Johannesburg/North West University/BioAssets Consultants
    • # of Other Institutions
      1
  • [Int'l Joint Research] Zagazig University(Egypt)

    • Country Name
      Egypt
    • Counterpart Institution
      Zagazig University
  • [Journal Article] Vector-control pesticide DDT detected in free-ranging chickens from South Africa2015

    • Author(s)
      Lesa A Thompson, Yoshinori Ikenaka, Yared B Yohannes, Johan van Vuren, Victor Wepener, Nico J Smit, Wynand Vlok, Shouta M M Nakayama, Hazuki Mizukawa and Mayumi Ishizuka
    • Journal Title

      Proceedings: 7th International Toxicology Symposium in Africa

      Volume: 7 Pages: 4-5

    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
  • [Presentation] Vector-contol pesticide DDT detected in free-ranging chickens from South Africa2015

    • Author(s)
      Lesa A THOMPSON, Yoshinori IKENAKA, Yared B YOHANNES, Johan J VAN VUREN, Victor WEPENER, Nico J SMIT, Wynand VLOK, Shouta M M NAKAYAMA, Hazuki MIZUKAWA, Mayumi ISHIZUKA
    • Organizer
      3rd Sapporo Summer Seminar for One Health
    • Place of Presentation
      Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
    • Year and Date
      2015-09-16 – 2015-09-17
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Vector-control pesticide DDT detected in free-ranging chickens from South Africa2015

    • Author(s)
      Lesa A Thompson, Yoshinori Ikenaka, Yared B Yohannes, Johan van Vuren, Victor Wepener, Nico J Smit, Wynand Vlok, Shouta M M Nakayama, Hazuki Mizukawa and Mayumi Ishizuka
    • Organizer
      7th International Toxicology Symposium in Africa
    • Place of Presentation
      Garden Court Hotel OR Tambo, Johannesburg, South Africa
    • Year and Date
      2015-08-31
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] Vector-control pesticides disseminating via international waterways to accumulate in free-ranging freshwater and marine fish species2015

    • Author(s)
      Lesa A Thompson, Yoshinori Ikenaka, Yared B Yohannes, Johan van Vuren, Victor Wepener, Nico J Smit, Wynand Vlok, Shouta M M Nakayama, Hazuki Mizukawa and Mayumi Ishizuka
    • Organizer
      Vth International Wildlife Management Congress
    • Place of Presentation
      Sapporo Convention Center, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
    • Year and Date
      2015-07-26 – 2015-07-30
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Vector-control pesticide DDT detected in free-ranging chickens from South Africa2015

    • Author(s)
      Lesa A Thompson, Yoshinori Ikenaka, Yared B Yohannes, Johan van Vuren, Victor Wepener, Nico J Smit, Wynand Vlok, Shouta M M Nakayama, Hazuki Mizukawa and Mayumi Ishizuka
    • Organizer
      24th Symposium on Environmental Chemistry
    • Place of Presentation
      Sapporo Convention Center, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
    • Year and Date
      2015-06-24 – 2015-06-28
  • [Remarks] Vetmed Tox Hokkaido University

    • URL

      http://tox.vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp/en/

  • [Funded Workshop] IWMC, crayfish eradication program2015

    • Place of Presentation
      Toyako-cho
    • Year and Date
      2015-07-31 – 2015-08-01

URL: 

Published: 2016-12-27  

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