LETTERS.Your reporter states that 'Scientists discovered compelling evidence that the pesticide DDT DDT or 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1,-trichloroethane, chlorinated hydrocarbon compound used as an insecticide. First introduced during the 1940s, it killed insects that spread disease and feed on crops. may in fact be as great a menace as malaria itself' (American gene scientists seek a cure for malaria' - June 2001). The article goes on to state that the release of DDT into the environment could have potentially catastrophic implications for future generations and that there are certain potential health impacts, such as its purported effect on sex hormones and then states that DDT is a carcinogen carcinogen: see cancer. carcinogen Agent that can cause cancer. Exposure to one or more carcinogens, including certain chemicals, radiation, and certain viruses, can initiate cancer under conditions not completely understood. . These are opinions dressed up as facts. DDT was first used in agriculture and malaria control shortly after the Second World War. In the nearly 60 years that DDT has been used and present in the environment, there have been many allegations made about its impact on human health, but not none have stood up to replication and reporting in the Scientific peer review literature. Countless studies have looked into the effects of DDT and all that they have been able to do is produce potential and theoretical harms. The International Agency for Research on Cancer The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, or CIRC in its French acronym) is an intergovernmental agency forming part of the World Health Organisation of the United Nations. Its main offices are in Lyon, France. rates DDT as a possible human carcinogen (a far lower ranking than nutmeg, orange juice, coffee and many pharmaceutical drugs). Again, not one case controlled study of DDT's human carcinogenicity carcinogenicity /car·ci·no·ge·nic·i·ty/ (kahr?si-no-je-nis´i-te) the ability or tendency to produce cancer. carcinogenicity the ability or tendency to produce cancer. has been affirmatively replicated. Therefore, the statement that DDT is carcinogenic carcinogenic having a capacity for carcinogenesis. , it causes cancers, is entirely bogus. DDT is used indoors in minute quantities (with negligible environmental effect) to control malaria, and brings colossal benefits to those at risk from the disease. It saves thousands of lives every day from the very real and known risks of malaria. To report spurious and unfounded studies into potential health effects of DDT, and to state that DDT could be as great a menace as malaria itself is outrageous. No one has ever died of DDT poisoning, while over a million die from malaria each year. DDT could prevent many of these deaths, however due to the misconceptions over its use and biased environmentalist environmentalist a person with an interest and knowledge about the interaction of humans and animals with the environment. campaigns, its use is being reduced, rather than expanded. While studies into malaria vaccines and genetically altered mosquitoes are useful in the long term, DDT can save lives very cheaply and very effectively right now Richard Tren & Dr Roger Bate Directors, Africa Fighting Malaria Africa Fighting Malaria (AFM) is an NGO based in Washington DC and South Africa which states it "seeks to educate people about the scourge of Malaria and the political economy of malaria control". Sandton, South Africa. |
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