My lit review topic will focus on DDT, known as Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. This chemical was banned in the United States after 1972, so there are no particular agencies local, state, or federal which provide oversight. However, I discovered that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (federal agency) has a toxicological profile, providing a public health statement about DDT and it's associated side effects. Currently, there are multiple federal agencies that regulate toxic substances, such as DDT, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Although DDT has been banned in the U.S., many countries across the world still use this chemical to control malaria. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently allows for and recommends the use of DDT indoors in many developing countries to prevent malaria. However, it is also known that large doses of DDT can cause adverse health effects including tremors and seizures, mostly because of DDT's effect on the nervous system.
Hi Nalleli,
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting topic, it is concerning that even with the knowledge we have regarding the exposure to DDT and development many harmful health effects to the reproductive and endocrine systems we still continue to use this chemical. It's great that it is banned in the U.S. but the rest of the world uses it because the immediate benefits outweigh the long term negative effects. I'm looking forward to learning more about DDT, thanks for picking this topic.