Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

BOX 3: HUMAN HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF EXPOSURE
TO DDTS
• Reduced fertility
• Urogenital birth defects (males)
• Impaired breast feeding
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cancer
ganic lead; electronics – brominated flame retardants), and food contact materials
(BPA). These are just a few of the many known sources of EDCs (see Tables 2 and
3). Other categories include personal care products (phthalates, triclosan, mercury,
alkylphenol polyethoxylates), textiles and clothing (perfluorochemicals), and
building products (high-volume use of brominated flame retardants and chemicals
in insulation), among others.
A) PESTICIDES
i. DDT
Where it is used
DDT is an organochlorine insecticide that was used extensively worldwide in the
1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Its use included insect control in the commercial and
private production of crops and livestock, and in homes, gardens, public places,
and institutions. Due to DDT’s toxicity to wildlife and its persistence, numerous
countries banned DDT use in the 1970s. Despite this, DDT is still used extensively,
particularly in India and Africa, for controlling insects that transmit human diseases
such as malaria, leishmaniasis, dengue and Chagas disease.
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), which was
adopted in 2001 and is now ratified by 179 countries, was intended to restrict
global use of DDT to disease vector control in accordance with WHO guidelines as
an Indoor Residual Spray until viable alternatives are available. Although the goal
was to reduce and ultimately eliminate all use, global use has not changed significantly
since the Stockholm Convention went into effect (59). Moreover, despite
the restriction of DDT to its use in vector control only, monitoring reports suggest
34