DDT und DDE: the pathway in the body · Biomarker & Laboratory Analysis

This page shows the biochemical pathway of the substance DDT und DDE: how it enters the body, which stations it passes and which steps it affects. Every statement has a source. The page describes general textbook knowledge and says nothing about any individual person.

In brief

DDT is a chlorinated insecticide that dissolves in fat. In the body it is converted into DDE, gathers in adipose tissue and binds to sodium channels of nerve cells and to oestrogen and androgen receptors. The body releases it only very slowly.

The pathway step by step

Each station states what the compound does there. Three signs: ↑ supplies — builds up or makes available · ↓ depletes — inhibits, consumes or withholds · ↕ both, depending on amount. Behind it stands what the statement rests on: established physiology, observed in studies, or contested. The signs do not grade; they name the direction.

1. DDT in food → Uptake in the gut · dietary fat Because DDT dissolves in fat, it is absorbed in the small intestine together with the dietary fat and enters the circulation via lymph and blood. It travels inside the fat droplets. Source 1↑ supplies Fat absorption in the small intestine delivers DDT along with it: it travels in the fat droplets via the lymph into the circulation. established physiology Source 1
   ⚖ When the balance tips

   too much — If DDT is in a fatty meal, a larger share is absorbed together with the fats.

   too little — If there is little fat in the meal, DDT is dissolved less well, and part of it leaves the gut with the stool.

   observed in studies · Source 1

2. Uptake in the gut → Store in fat tissue From the blood DDT passes into adipose tissue and gathers there. The body gives it up again only very slowly. Part of it passes into breast milk. Source 1, 2↓ depletes Adipose tissue withdraws DDT and DDE from the blood and stores them; from this store they return to the blood only slowly. established physiology Source 1, 2
   ⚖ When the balance tips

   too much — If a lot of DDT is stored in adipose tissue, more of it is released when body fat is broken down and during breastfeeding, and part of it passes into breast milk.

   too little — If little is stored, the amount in the blood also stays low.

   established physiology · Source 1, 2

3. Store in fat tissue → Conversion in the liver In the liver DDT is converted along two routes: loss of hydrogen chloride gives DDE, loss of one chlorine atom gives DDD. Only the route via DDD yields an excretable acid. Source 1↑ supplies The liver converts DDT into DDE and DDD; only the route via DDD leads to an excretable acid, while DDE stays in the body. established physiology Source 1
   ⚖ When the balance tips

   too much — If a lot of DDT reaches the liver, mainly more DDE forms, which gathers in adipose tissue.

   too little — If little arrives, little DDE and DDD form; the conversion is slow overall, so DDT itself persists for a long time.

   established physiology · Source 1, 6

4. Conversion in the liver → DDE DDE dissolves in fat even better than DDT and is barely converted further. It stays in adipose tissue for a long time and is the form usually measured in blood. As p,p'-DDE it occupies the androgen receptor. Source 1, 2↓ depletes DDE is the form that remains longest; as p,p'-DDE it occupies the androgen receptor without activating it. observed in studies Source 1, 4
   ⚖ When the balance tips

   too much — If a lot of DDE accumulates, it stays in adipose tissue and blood for years, and in laboratory assays more androgen receptors are occupied.

   too little — If little DDE is present, the binding sites on the androgen receptor are also barely occupied.

   observed in studies · Source 1, 4

5. Conversion in the liver → DDA in urine Several steps convert DDD into the acid DDA. It is water-soluble and leaves the body with the urine. This is how part of the DDT leaves the body. Source 1, 6↓ depletes Via DDA the body removes part of the DDT: the water-soluble acid leaves it with the urine. established physiology Source 1, 6
   ⚖ When the balance tips

   too much — If a lot of DDT is converted via DDD, more DDA appears in the urine.

   too little — If little is converted via DDD, little DDA forms, and more remains stored as DDE.

   established physiology · Source 6, 1

6. DDT and DDE in cells → Sodium channel DDT binds to the voltage-gated sodium channel. The binding site lies between two segments of the channel protein; pyrethroids bind at the same site. DDT thus keeps the channel open for longer. Source 3↓ depletes DDT occupies a site between two segments of the sodium channel and thereby keeps it open for longer. observed in studies Source 3
   ⚖ When the balance tips

   too much — If many sodium channels are occupied by DDT, more of them close with a delay, and the nerve cell fires repeatedly.

   too little — If few are occupied, the channels open and close mostly at their usual pace.

   observed in studies · Source 3

7. Sodium channel → Sodium influx · sodium With DDT bound, the channel closes with a delay. Sodium therefore flows into the nerve cell for longer, and the excitation of the cell lasts longer. The cell then fires repeatedly. Source 3, 2↑ supplies The prolonged sodium influx keeps the cell membrane excited for longer; the nerve cell then fires repeatedly where one signal would otherwise suffice. observed in studies Source 3, 2
   ⚖ When the balance tips

   too much — If a lot of sodium flows in for a long time, nerve cells discharge repeatedly and pass signals on to muscles, even without a new stimulus.

   too little — If the influx is brief, the membrane quickly returns to its resting state, and each excitation remains a single signal.

   observed in studies · Source 2, 3

8. DDT and DDE in cells → Oestrogen receptor o,p'-DDT binds to the oestrogen receptors alpha and beta. In laboratory assays it triggers the same reading of genes as oestradiol, but more weakly. Oestradiol, however, binds far more firmly. Source 5↑ supplies o,p'-DDT occupies the oestrogen receptors and, in laboratory assays, triggers a weak, oestrogen-like reading of genes. observed in studies Source 5
   ⚖ When the balance tips

   too much — If a lot of o,p'-DDT is bound to oestrogen receptors, the reading of oestrogen-dependent genes is triggered more strongly in laboratory assays; oestradiol nevertheless binds far more firmly.

   too little — If little is bound, oestradiol mainly determines the reading of these genes in laboratory assays.

   observed in studies · Source 5

9. DDT and DDE in cells → Androgen receptor p,p'-DDE binds to the androgen receptor without activating it. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone then find the binding site occupied. The receptor then stays without a signal. Source 4↓ depletes p,p'-DDE occupies the androgen receptor and keeps testosterone and dihydrotestosterone away; the receptor then stays inactive. observed in studies Source 4
   ⚖ When the balance tips

   too much — If a lot of p,p'-DDE is bound, more androgen receptors remain without a signal in laboratory assays and animal models.

   too little — If little is bound, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone find the receptors free.

   observed in studies · Source 4

10. Oestrogen receptor → Reading of genes Both bindings act at the same point: the reading of hormone-dependent genes. At the androgen receptor it is inhibited, at the oestrogen receptor weakly triggered. This shifts the balance of hormone signals. Source 4, 5↓ depletes Both bindings meet at hormone-dependent genes: androgen-dependent genes are read less often, oestrogen-dependent ones slightly more often in laboratory assays. observed in studies Source 4, 5
    ⚖ When the balance tips

    too much — If many receptors are occupied, the pattern of genes read shifts in laboratory assays away from androgen signals and towards weak oestrogen signals.

    too little — If few are occupied, the body's own hormones determine which of these genes are read.

    observed in studies · Source 4, 5

11. Androgen receptor → Reading of genes Both bindings act at the same point: the reading of hormone-dependent genes. At the androgen receptor it is inhibited, at the oestrogen receptor weakly triggered. This shifts the balance of hormone signals. Source 4, 5↓ depletes Both bindings meet at hormone-dependent genes: androgen-dependent genes are read less often, oestrogen-dependent ones slightly more often in laboratory assays. observed in studies Source 4, 5
    ⚖ When the balance tips

    too much — If many receptors are occupied, the pattern of genes read shifts in laboratory assays away from androgen signals and towards weak oestrogen signals.

    too little — If few are occupied, the body's own hormones determine which of these genes are read.

    observed in studies · Source 4, 5

Further stations

• DDT in food — bound to dietary fat DDT is a chlorinated insecticide. It reaches the body mainly with food, where it sits above all in the fatty fractions. Both substances accumulate in fat. Source 1↑ supplies Fatty foods supply most of the DDT and DDE that enters the body, because both substances accumulate in fat. established physiology Source 1
  ⚖ When the balance tips

  too much — If more DDT arrives with food, the store in adipose tissue grows over years, because the body releases it only slowly.

  too little — If little DDT arrives, the store hardly grows; DDE that is already stored nevertheless stays in adipose tissue for a long time.

  established physiology · Source 1

• DDT and DDE in cells — fat-soluble, cross membranes DDT and DDE dissolve in cell membranes. In this way they reach binding sites on ion channels of nerve cells and on hormone receptors inside the cell. They accumulate there. Source 1, 3↑ supplies Because DDT and DDE dissolve in membranes, they reach their binding sites by themselves: sodium channels in the membrane and receptors inside the cell. established physiology Source 1, 3
  ⚖ When the balance tips

  too much — If there is a lot of DDT or DDE in blood and fat, more of it accumulates in the membranes and reaches more binding sites.

  too little — If little is present, most binding sites on channels and receptors remain unoccupied.

  established physiology · Source 1

Cofactors in this pathway

• Sodium — The ion that flows through the voltage-gated sodium channels DDT binds to; with DDT it flows in for longer Source 3In the ORY catalogue as a laboratory value: Natrium (intrazellulär)
• Testosterone — Otherwise binds to the androgen receptor, the same site p,p'-DDE binds to; DDE then keeps it away Source 4In the ORY catalogue as a laboratory value: Testosteron
• Oestradiol (E2) — Binds to the oestrogen receptors alpha and beta, the same sites o,p'-DDT binds to; binds far more firmly than DDT Source 5In the ORY catalogue as a laboratory value: Estradiol (E2)
• Dietary fat — Dissolves DDT and DDE and carries them along during absorption in the small intestine; DDT thus enters the lymph Source 1

Sources

1. Turusov V, Rakitsky V et al. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT): ubiquity, persistence, and risks. Environ Health Perspect 2002 · PubMed 11836138
2. Beard J. DDT and human health. Sci Total Environ 2006 · PubMed 15894351
3. Zhorov BS, Dong K. Elucidation of pyrethroid and DDT receptor sites in the voltage-gated sodium channel. Neurotoxicology 2017 · PubMed 27567732
4. Kelce WR, Stone CR et al. Persistent DDT metabolite p,p'-DDE is a potent androgen receptor antagonist. Nature 1995 · PubMed 7791873
5. Kuiper GG, Lemmen JG et al. Interaction of estrogenic chemicals and phytoestrogens with estrogen receptor beta. Endocrinology 1998 · PubMed 9751507
6. Roan C, Morgan D et al. Urinary excretion of DDA following ingestion of DDT and DDT metabolites in man. Arch Environ Health 1971 · PubMed 5100105

Related pathways

• Organophosphate — conversion in the liver

As of 2026-09-18. Draft, written by Claude to schema v2; sources checked in PubMed; expert approval pending
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