Table 1 Comparison of characteristics and dioxin levels in breast milk of mothers from regions sprayed and not sprayed with herbicide

Age (years)

86

29.3  ±  5.7

71

26.1 ± 4.3

***^a

Height (cm)

79

152.4 ± 4.6

54

154.1 ± 5.5

*^a

Weight (kg)

85

43.6 ±  3.9

66

45.8 ± 4.0

**^a

BMI (kg/m²)

78

18.8 ±  1.5

54

19.4 ± 1.8

n.s.^a

Contact with herbicides during the war

 Yes

4 (4.9%)

71

0 (%)

–

 No

82

71 (86.6%)

71 (100%)

 Do not know

7 (8.5%)

0 (%)

Uses pesticides

 Yes

82

7 (8.5%)

68

31 (45.6%)

***^b

Uses other chemicals

 Yes

84

2 (2.4%)

65

0 (%)

–

Alcohol habit

 Yes

83

83 (100°%)

69

69 (100%)

–

Smoke status

 Yes

83

3 (3.6%)

71

0 (%)

–

Uses contraceptives

 Yes

80

3 (3.8%)

65

1 (1.5%)

n.s.^b

Women with cousin born with birth defect

 Yes

79

12 (15.2%)

66

7 (10.6%)

n.s.^b

The number of cousins born with birth defects (people)

12

1.3 ± 0.9

7

1 ± 0

n.s.^a

Present disease

 Yes

86

19 (22.1%)

70

6 (8.6%)

*^b

History of reproductive failure

 Yes

86

19 (22.1%)

71

4 (5.6%)

**^b

TEQ-PCDDs (pgTEQ/g fat)^c

86

5.1 ± 3.2

71

2.1 ± 0.9

***^a

TEQ-PCDFs (pgTEQ/g fat)^c

86

6 ± 4

71

2 ± 0.8

***^a

TEQ-Total (pgTEQ/g fat)^c

86

11.3 ± 7

71

4.2 ± 1.6

***^a