Hello everyone! Previously on this blog, much has been mentioned of why farmers choose to use toxic chemicals as well as why they hang around for so long in our environment. Today, we explore more on how pesticides, in this case DDT, is so detrimental to human health, which ultimately led to their ban in the 1970’s in almost all developed countries.

DDT is considered as an endocrine disruptor. Studies have shown that there was reduced sperm count and reduced breastfeeding period. DDT is also suspected of causing spontaneous abortion and premature delivery. DDT’s breakdown product, DDE has also significant evidence for liver cancer mortality. The major source of DDT intake for the general population is through food. Since DDT has a high lipophilicity, food substances like eggs, meat and milk should be most considered when performing studies on DDT intake and its effects.

Biomagnification of DDT in human milk has been observed in parts of Brazil. In the agricultural area of Sao Paulo State, levels of DDT found in human milk was 0.149 mg/kg, was compared with the WHO guidelines of 0.02 mg/kg for cow’s milk. Also, in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul State, 2.98 mg/kg of DDT in human milk was found. The DDT levels in both these studies were high, despite the fact that DDT was prohibited in agricultural use there since 1986.

There aren’t many studies which focus on the fate of DDT which describe the full extent of its harm. However, what we know is they can stay in the environment or in us for a very long time, resulting in bioaccumulation and biomagnification. There are chronic effects which follow from DDT exposure, including hormonal effects.

References:

D.R Vieria, E., P.M Torres, J. and Malm, O., 2001. DDT Environmental Persistence from Its Use in a Vector Control Program: A Case Study. Environmental Reseach, 86(2), pp.174-182.

Photo Credits:

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/DDT-is-good-for-me-An-advertisement-for-widespread-farm-home-and-food-processing-use_fig1_263740149