Natalia,
Except for an occasional noted interpolation, everything here has been taken from your cites below. I would warn you that you must be careful of governmental doom-saying. They are in the business of doom and are likely in the face of all evidence to make statements that will keep them in business and show how important they are. Thus be careful about EPA statements such as “it is highly reasonable to assume that since liver cancer in animals has been linked to DDT accumulation, humans are likely also at risk of its carcinogenic effects.” You’ll notice at the top of the table below that DDT is not certainly carcinogenic, not probably carcinogenic, but “possibly carcinogenic to humans”. Not exactly an outright indictment is it? However, let’s cut to the chase. This from your submission below, and from: HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES DATA BANK Human Toxicity Excerpts :... There is no documented evidence that the dietary absorption of DDT alone or in combination with insecticides of the aldrin toxaphene group, has caused cancer in the general population ... . No evidence... presented that DDT has caused cancer among millions of individuals (almost entirely men) who have been occupationally engaged for as long as 35 years in the manufacture and handling or spraying ... /DDT/ (as dust, solution, or suspension) in all parts of the world and under all possible climatic conditions. [Clayton, G.D., F.E. Clayton (eds.) Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology. Volumes 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F: Toxicology. 4th ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1993-1994., p. 1514]**PEER REVIEWED** Well? This is rather better than my contribution that workers at the Montrose Chemical Plant exposed for up to 20 years to levels of DDT 400 times the normal exposure showed two effects (said the USP). One was it might be a fertility drug, the other that it might be a cancer inhibitor. I did find in your stuff an example of DDD being used against throat cancer. So, maybe . . . ? All kinds of experiments are being done all the time in labs. Their intention is to get the goods on DDT and sometimes they do. They are suspect – particularly when the experiments are carried out on rats. I did a paper on rat experiments. I found practically anything can cause tumors or cancer in rates – including fluorescent lighting. So the “scientist” can lick his lips with anticipation as he injects massive amounts of DDT into a newborn rat. Toxicity in your submission is often linked to California’s Proposition 65 (P65) as if that proved something. The “Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986” requires that the Governor revise and republish at least once per year the list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. DDT is included of course, but not mentioned is that the single-spaced list of toxic chemicals extends to 18 pages. By all means pull out DDT and make it an issue but it’s small potatoes compared to the real toxic substances that replaced it. Actually, more than 4 billion pounds of toxic chemicals are released by industry into the nation's environment each year, including 72 million pounds of recognized carcinogens. (Yet, of course, DDT is the real culprit!) You’ll remember I pointed out that when this effective, safe, and cheap pesticide was banned, the chemical companies had a great time replacing it with more expensive and more lethal chemicals. Their profits soared (surely not what the environmentalists intended. Would you like now to withdraw your remark: “For those who could possibly think that Harry's irresponsible "DDT is safe" remark represents the collective voice of Futurework list members, I felt compelled to submit the following:” Harry ********************************** Henry George School of Social Science of Los Angeles. Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 818 352-4141 ********************************** From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Darryl or Natalia Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 3:05 PM To: futurework; Harry Pollard Subject: [Futurework] recent safety studies, DDT The EPA says that it is highly reasonable to assume that since liver cancer in animals has been linked to DDT accumulation, humans are likely also at risk of its carcinogenic effects. Link at end, Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, 2002. How likely are DDT, DDE, and DDD to cause cancer? Studies in DDT-exposed workers did not show increases in cancer. Studies in animals given DDT with the food have shown that DDT can cause liver cancer. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) determined that DDT may reasonable be anticipated to be a human carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) determined that DDT may possibly cause cancer in humans. The EPA determined that DDT, DDE, and DDD are probable human carcinogens. For those who could possibly think that Harry's irresponsible "DDT is safe" remark represents the collective voice of Futurework list members, I felt compelled to submit the following: Below, two exerpts on known toxic attributes of DDT: >From the GPA, 1991, we have the following: First from-- HYPERLINK "http://www.chem.unep.ch/gpa_trial/14ddt.htm"http://www.che m.unep.ch/gpa_trial/14ddt.htm DDT HYPERLINK "http://www.chem.unep.ch/gpa_trial/14ddt.htm#intro"Introduc tion HYPERLINK "http://www.chem.unep.ch/gpa_trial/14ddt.htm#huma"Effects on Humans HYPERLINK "http://www.chem.unep.ch/gpa_trial/14ddt.htm#marin"Effects on the Aquatic Environment Introduction Cancer Classification Toxic Effects Reproductive Neurodevelopmental IARC*(1991): Group 2B: possibly carcinogenic to humans. Humans: * environmental oestrogen and antiandrogen effects on foetuses and breast feeding infants. * Decreased fertility. * Still births, neonatal deaths and congenital defects among children of chronic exposed workers. (WFPHA, 2000). Birds and mammals: chronic exposure: * estrogenic properties and antiandrogenic sexual development feminization of males (alligators and Florida panthers). * Eggshell thinning of offspring. (WFPHA, 2000). Humans: single doses from 6 to 10 milligrams: * nausea, headaches, diarrhoea, irritation of the mucous membranes, tremors and convulsions, nervous system abnormalities. (WHO, 1979; WFPHA, 2000). Rats: single or repeated doses (5mg/kg) * liver damage, tremors, decreased thyroid function, impaired neurological exposure. (WHO, 1979). *IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer. DDT is an organochlorine pesticide that has been used as an HYPERLINK "javascript:NewWindow('gloss.htm#ins','gloss','750','150',' yes');"insecticide in agriculture and to combat insect vectors of diseases such as malaria and typhus. DDT is one of the earliest and most well known HYPERLINK "javascript:NewWindow('gloss.htm#pestic','gloss','750','150 ','yes');"pesticides, and it was widely used until legislative restrictions were imposed after environmental impairments were manifested. This has led to a widespread contamination of water and soil resources and resulted in serious health effects in animals. Although banned in many countries, DDT continues to be used for residual indoor spraying in a number of countries. Because of it's effectiveness at killing insects with few acute effects on humans, DDT had been a mainstay of many countries' fights against malaria, a disease that is a growing threat to health in much of the world. For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO), while supporting an ultimate phase-out, continues to endorse the use of DDT for indoor residual application in government-authorized public health campaigns. (WFPHA, World Federation of Public Health Associations, 2000). For most populations, the primary route of exposure to DDT and its metabolites is through food. DDT is readily metabolised into a stable and equally toxic compound, DDE. DDT and DDE are fat-soluble and are stored in adipose tissues of humans and animals. They break down very slowly, and are released primarily to urine and breast milk. DDT and its metabolites have been found in virtually every breast milk sample tested, including samples taken in tropical areas of Mexico. In many countries where the pesticide is still in use, levels exceed FAO/WHO ADI standards (0.01 mg/kg bw, 2000); concentrations of DDE are four-to five fold higher in mothers milk of Inuit women in northern Quebec compared with populations from southern Canada. (WFPHA, 2000). Effects on Humans A rise in reproductive abnormalities in both humans and wildlife over the last 20-40 years has caused some scientist to look for environmental factors that may be influencing reproductive capacity. DDT and its metabolites are considered to be environmental oestrogens. In a study in India, a group of men who worked with DDT was found to have decreased fertility, and a significant increase in still births, neonatal deaths and congenital defects among their children. Israeli men with unexplained fertility problem were also found to have high blood levels if DDT. (WFPHA, 2000). Effects on the Aquatic Environment Adverse health effects of DDT in animals include reproductive and developmental failure, possible immune system effects, and the widespread deaths of wild birds after DDT spraying. As is the case with many organochlorine insecticides, a major target of acute DDT exposure is the nervous system. Long term administration of DDT has brought about neurological, hepatic, renal and immunologic effects in animals. Research has shown that DDT prevents androgen from binding to its receptor thereby blocking androgen from guiding normal sexual development in male rats and resulting in abnormalities. Evidence has been found in alligators in which hatchlings from DDE-painted eggs are sexually indeterminate; possessing both male and female reproductive characteristics. (WFPHA, 2000). In laboratory cultures of whole phytoplankton from the Caspian and Mediterranean seas, DDT reduced primary production by as much as 50% at a concentration of 1 ppb. Marine fish appear to be very sensitive to DDT: the 96 h LC50 for it ranges between 0.4 and 0.89 micrograms/l for a variety of teleosts. Bivalve molluscs, on the other hand, with their ability to concentrate organochlorine pesticides without coming to harm have a 96 h LC50 greater than 10 mg/l. (Clark, 1997). Long range atmospheric transport of DDT into the northern countries, including the Arctic, is well documented, DDT has been detected in Arctic air, soil, snow and ice, and virtually all levels of the Arctic food chain. Many studies indicate that bottom sediments in lakes and rivers act as reservoirs for DDT and its metabolites. Despite a twenty-year ban in the U.S., It is still found concentrated in soils and freshwater sediments. Aquatic vertebrates such as fathead minnow and rainbow trout have also been found to contain DDT. Then, from a governmnent registry, 2002: HYPERLINK "http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts35.html"http://www.atsdr.cd c.gov/tfacts35.html Highlights Exposure to DDT, DDE, and DDD occurs mostly from eating foods containing small amounts of these compounds, particularly meat, fish and poultry. High levels of DDT can affect the nervous system causing excitability, tremors and seizures. In women, DDE can cause a reduction in the duration of lactation and an increased chance of having a premature baby. DDT, DDE, and DDD have been found in at least 441 of the 1,613 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). HYPERLINK "http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts35.html#top"top What are DDT, DDE, and DDD? DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is a pesticide once widely used to control insects in agriculture and insects that carry diseases such as malaria. DDT is a white, crystalline solid with no odor or taste. Its use in the U.S. was banned in 1972 because of damage to wildlife, but is still used in some countries. DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) and DDD (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane) are chemicals similar to DDT that contaminate commercial DDT preparations. DDE has no commercial use. DDD was also used to kill pests, but its use has also been banned. One form of DDD has been used medically to treat cancer of the adrenal gland. HYPERLINK "http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts35.html#top"top What happens to DDT, DDE, and DDD when they enter the environment? * DDT entered the environment when it was used as a pesticide; it still enters the environment due to current use in other countries. * DDE enters the environment as contaminant or breakdown product of DDT; DDD also enters the environment as a breakdown product of DDT. * DDT, DDE, and DDD in air are rapidly broken down by sunlight. Half of what's in air breaks down within 2 days. * They stick strongly to soil; most DDT in soil is broken down slowly to DDE and DDD by microorganisms; half the DDT in soil will break down in 2-15 years, depending on the type of soil. * Only a small amount will go through the soil into groundwater; they do not dissolve easily in water. * DDT, and especially DDE, build up in plants and in fatty tissues of fish, birds, and other animals. HYPERLINK "http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts35.html#top"top How might I be exposed to DDT, DDE, and DDD? * Eating contaminated foods, such as root and leafy vegetable, fatty meat, fish, and poultry, but levels are very low. * Eating contaminated imported foods from countries that still allow the use of DDT to control pests. * Breathing contaminated air or drinking contaminated water near waste sites and landfills that may contain higher levels of these chemicals. * Infants fed on breast milk from mothers who have been exposed. * Breathing or swallowing soil particles near waste sites or landfills that contain these chemicals. Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.6/795 - Release Date: 5/9/2007 3:07 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.6/828 - Release Date: 6/1/2007 11:22 AM
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