It seems as though the controversy surrounding the use of DDT for the control of malaria vectors (female Anopheles mosquitoes) will never end. Recent research has shown that exposure to DDT used for malaria spraying negatively impacts semen quality in young men.
http://andrologyjournal.org/cgi/reprint/27/1/16
http://andrologyjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/28/3/423
In all the hype and bluster surrounding the DDT "story" these findings seem to be generally ignored or disparaged by the pro-DDT lobby. What should be of even more concern is that these studies were done on men with non-occupational exposure. What is happening with the men actually applying DDT week in and week out in South Africa and other African countries?
While it is obvious that DDT still has a role to play in malaria control, especially in Africa, it seems as though the argumentation from the pro-DDT lobby is as one-sided and biased as they accuse the anti-DDT lobby of being. Even worse, those arguing against the use of DDT are often accused of being "child-killers" due to the deaths of children not being protected by indoor residual spraying with DDT. Will the pro-DDT faction one day be categorized as killers of unborn children?
1 comment:
Who are you? Why are you looking in those journals, just out of curiosity?
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