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# PCBs, OC pesticides linked to high death risk in those with low fat mass
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/pcbs_oc_pesticides_0216151132/
- Published: 2015-02-16T12:08:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:59:52.000Z
- Description: Korean scientists measured PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in more than 600 NHANES participants aged 70 and older. Among those with low fat mass, but not high, the pesticides tracked with total and cardiovascular mortality and higher PCBs with two- to three-fold cardiovascular death risk.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Environment, Health News, #vivvo-import

Monday Feb 16, 2015 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study led by scientists at Kyungpook National University in Daegu, Republic of Korea suggests that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine (OC) pesticides can increase risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and caner, at lease in lean elderly people

For the study, the scientists measured serum concentrations of 11 PCBs in 633 elderly people aged 70 or older and 5 OC pesticides in 675 elderly people who were enrolled and followed in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004.

The study showed that the risk of PCBs and OC pesticides depended upon the fat mass. In elderly people with low fat mass, but not those with high fat mass, OC pesticides were positively correlated with total mortality and CVD mortality.

Also in elderly people with low fat mass, higher PCBs were correlated with 2 to 3 fold-higher risk for CVD mortality. Similarly, OC pesticides were linked to increased risk for CVD mortality in elderly people with low fat mass.

*Kim SA, Kim KS, Lee YM, Jacobs DR, Lee DH. Associations of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls with total, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality in elders with differing fat mass. Environ Res. 2015 Feb 12;138C:1-7.*

OC pesticides are environmental endocrine disruptors. [Studies ](https://www.foodconsumer.org/pesticides%5Flinked%5Fto%5Fprostate%5Fcancer%5F1001100417/)have implied that exposure to OC pesticides can increase risk of prostate cancer. Exposure to OC pesticides may also be a cause for vitamin D deficiency, according to [an early study](https://www.foodconsumer.org/pesticides%5Fvitamin%5Fd%5Fdeficiency%5F0130120805/) also conducted by researchers in Korea.

Great exposure to PCBs have been linked in [studies ](https://www.foodconsumer.org/flame%5Fretardants%5Fboost%5Fdiabetes%5Fmellitus%5Frisk%5F0626110708/)to elevated risk of [diabetes mellitus](http://foodconsumer.org/7777/8888/M%5Fedicare%5F54/081601422008%5FHigh%5FPCB%5Fexposure%5Flinked%5Fto%5Fdiabetes%5Frisk.shtml?ref=foodconsumer.org) and [breast cancer](http://foodconsumer.org/7777/8888/M%5Fedicare%5F54/52510592008%5FNot%5FFinished%5FYet.shtml?ref=foodconsumer.org).

PCBs are banned in many countries for many years. But they are still there in the environment because they persist. These toxic chemicals are now replaced with polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), which should be chemically very similar to polychlorinated biphenyl. [Home can be full of PBDE](http://www.foodconsumer.org/777/8/printer%5FCars%5Fcomputers%5Fmay%5Fbe%5Fmajor%5Fsources%5Fof%5FPBDEs.shtml) because this chemical is commonly used as a flame retardant in furniture, carpet, electronics like computers and cars.

Exposure to OC pesticides can be minimized by eating only organic foods. Certain conventionally grown (pesticides are used) fruits and vegetables that are high in pesticides. According to the Environmental Working Group ([EWG](http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/list.php?ref=foodconsumer.org)), 12 conventional fruits/vegetables contain high levels of pesticides including apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, sweet bell peppers, nectarines imported, cucumbers, cherry potatoes, snap peas imported, potatoes, hot peppers, and kale/collard greens.

Fruits and vegetables that are low in pesticides include Avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, cabbage, sweet peas-frozen, onions, asparagus, mangoes, papayas (note that some papayas are genetically modified), kiwi, eggplant, grapefruit, cantaloupe, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and mushrooms, according also to the EWG.

The list of pesticides can be viewed [here](http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/factsheets/alpha%5Ffs.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org).