Discussions and studies on the health consequences of DDT use have focused around reducing infant illness and death from vector control. "In laboratory experiments, effects of DDT include hepatic and central nervous system toxicity, estrogenic and antiandrogenic effects, and possible carcinogenicity" (Chen and Rogan, 2003). Some evidence has suggested that DDT exposure increases the risk of preterm delivery and shortens the length of lactation. If this evidence holds true then these conditions could increase the rate of infant deaths and thus void any benefits on mortality rates from a reduction in malaria. In a study conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Studies, it was found that the association between DDT exposure and infant illness and death were causal and the effects were very small compared to the conceivable benefits from vector control (Chen and Rogan, 2003).
When doing re-evaluations of DDT, the World Health Organization works hard to gain a scientific con-sensus on the appropriate methodology to use in order to assess the risks from DDT exposures in IRS applications. WHO also takes into account both the potential exposures to the people that live in a home along with the operators who are applying the chemicals. Another factor that is looked at is the amount of chemical that is released into the environment and the effects that they have (The Use of DDT in Malaria Vector Control, 2007).
It is projected that DDT will continue to be used in malaria control until an equally cost-effective alternative is developed. A...
How-ever, WHO's position on the safety and use of DDT could be revised at any time if new information becomes available on the potential hazards of DDT. The ultimate goal is to be able to control the spread of malaria without jeopardizing the health of humans or the environment in the process. In the end if the treatment is doing more harm than good, then there is not use to impose the treatment in the first place.
References
"The Use of DDT in Malaria Vector Control." (2007). Retrieved April 21, 2009, from World
Health Organization Web site:
http://www.who.int/malaria/docs/IRS/DDT/DDTposition.pdf
"Disposition of Chemical Compounds." (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2009, from Web site:
www.calstatela.edu/faculty/mchen/?Disposition-of-Chemical-Compounds-Lecture.ppt
Chen A, Rogan WJ. (2003). "Nonmalarial infant deaths and DDT use for malaria control."
Retrieved April 22, 2009, from Emerging Infectious Diseases Web site:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol9no8/03-0082.htm
