The Pine River Statement: Human Health Consequences of DDT Use

Abstract

ObjectivesDichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was used worldwide until the 1970s, when concerns about its toxic effects, its environmental persistence, and its concentration in the food supply led to use restrictions and prohibitions. In 2001, more than 100 countries signed the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), committing to eliminate the use of 12 POPs of greatest concern. However, DDT use was allowed for disease vector control. In 2006, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Agency for International Development endorsed indoor DDT spraying to control malaria. To better inform current policy, we reviewed epidemiologic studies published from 2003 to 2008 that investigated the human health consequences of DDT and/or DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) exposure.Data sources and extractionWe conducted a PubMed search in October 2008 and retrieved 494 studies.Data synthesisUse restrictions have been successful in lowering human exposure to DDT, but blood concentrations of DDT and DDE are high in countries where DDT is currently being used or was more recently restricted. The recent literature shows a growing body of evidence that exposure to DDT and its breakdown product DDE may be associated with adverse health outcomes such as breast cancer, diabetes, decreased semen quality, spontaneous abortion, and impaired neurodevelopment in children.ConclusionsAlthough we provide evidence to suggest that DDT and DDE may pose a risk to human health, we also highlight the lack of knowledge about human exposure and health effects in communities where DDT is currently being sprayed for malaria control. We recommend research to address this gap and to develop safe and effective alternatives to DDT.

Exposure to organochlorine pesticides is an independent risk factor of hepatocellular carcinoma: A case–control study

“…Epidemiological studies suggested that exposure to OCPs was related to many types of carcinoma; however, the data relating OCP exposure to HCC occurrence is still limited (Eskenazi et al, 2009). Liver's major function is detoxification, and therefore almost all of the xenobiotics tend to accumulate in liver, making it an easy target for attacks.…”

High levels of DDT in breast milk: Intake, risk, lactation duration, and involvement of gender

“…Cao et al, 2011;Cohn, 2011;Fromberg et al, 2011;Glynn et al, 2011) and its continued use in malaria vector control (Eskenazi et al, 2009;van den Berg, 2009;Darnerud et al, 2010;Bouwman et al, 2011). The problems with the use of DDT stems largely from its persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity, and physical-chemical capacity for long-range transport (Mackay et al, 2006;Stockholm Convention, 2012).…”

DDT contamination from indoor residual spraying for malaria control

“…Although the use of DDT has been credited with the successful elimination of malaria in a number of countries (Beard, 2006), due consideration should be given to the potential human health effects of exposure to DDT (Eskenazi et al, 2009). DDT IRS should therefore be carried out responsibly, to not only be effective in its objective, but also to ensure the safety of local communities regarding exposure to the pesticide.…”

“…Although some studies have found little evidence for a link between DDT exposure and health effects, (Cocco et al, 2005(Cocco et al, , 2006, other studies have shown that DDT and its metabolites may have adverse health effects in humans (e.g. Beard, 2006;IPEP, 2006;Aneck-Hahn et al, 2006;Eskenazi et al, 2009). However, limited data is available on the levels of DDT exposure experienced by those living in sprayed homes.…”