The Use of DDT in Malaria Vector Control - Article Example

?Article Critique: The Use of DDT in Malaria Vector Control HOW WOULD YOU USE A RISK VERSUS BENEFIT ASSESSMENT, AND WHAT OTHER TYPES OF TOXICOLOGYDATA WOULD YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS DECISION? REFER TO CHAPTER 12. This part of the study will broadly focus on analyzing the term dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and the risks as well as the benefits associated with this term would be assessed. In this regard, DDT is mainly used for the purpose of controlling certain critical diseases which itself can be regarded as a positive aspect. DDT has been strongly recommendable to use as it acts a strong insecticide for killing various sorts of insects. It can be apparently viewed that approximately a total of 14 countries worldwide have been using this particular pesticide in order to get rid from the effects of harmful insects. Also, several other countries are looking forward to re-introduce the use of DDT in a varied level. Spraying of DDT also acts as a strong deterrent to fight against one of the deadly diseases i.e. malaria. It also proves to be quite helpful to eradicate all those birds, insects and mammals that are solely responsible for transmitting severe disease pathogens. This eradication process is known as vector control which DDT ensures by a greater degree. However, certain amount of risks can be viewed to be associated with the use of DDT. As DDT is mainly used in indoors, it eventually generates the risks of deterioration of human health by a certain degree. This can be owing to the reason that direct exposure of this pesticide can damage the health of humans. Also, it can also be identified that there exists no such substitutes of DDT in order to prevent human health from severe diseases such as malaria. The other significant toxicology data which can be taken into concern in order to make the decision concerning the use of DDT in malaria vector control is that DDT is also responsible for causing various severe complexities. These complexities might comprise early pregnancy loss, fertility loss, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, leukemia, diabetes, pyrethroids and neuro developmental deficits among others. By taking into concern the aforesaid toxicology data, it can be ascertained that DDT indeed imposes serious health hazards to the humans which is a major cause of concern. It can be viewed in this regard that due to the seriousness of this issue, countries such as the United States is strongly working upon to develop appropriate alternative pesticide in order to reduce the health hazards and provide health related benefits to the humans. But relating to the case of Africa which has a record of occurring the disease i.e. malaria, World Health Organization (WHO) has allowed indoor use of DDT. But the main dilemma concerning this factor is that DDT also acts as a strong deterrent to fight against malaria as well as vector control and at the same time, it poses serious chronic health hazards to the humans (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, “DDT, DDE, AND DDD”). However, a decision of creating an alternative pesticide is needed to be taken which may help in resolving this particular issue by a certain degree (Berg, “Global Status of DDT and Its Alternatives for Use in Vector Control to Prevent Disease”). 2. USE THE FOUR PHASES OF THE DISPOSITION OF A TOXIC COMPOUND TO ASSESS THE TOXICITY OF DDT The four phases have been described hereunder. Absorption-DDT mainly gets absorbed in the human body when the pesticide is exposed to the skin and lung. Ingestion also happens due to DDT which enters into the human body causing deterioration in the health of human beings at large. Distribution-If DDT is able to enter the human body, then it is circulated/distributed to the entire body parts in a fast way. It also contains high amount of fat which quickly spreads into the body imposing adverse effect upon human’s health. Metabolism-The metabolism phase or process of DDT primarily include certain effective processes that encompass dechlorination, dehydrochlorination, oxidation, hydroxylation and reduction. All these functions take place in the human body with the inclusion of DDT. However, if DDT is entered into the human body, then it is needed to dispose off as well. Elimination-If DDT is exposed to the body of the human beings or if it enters to the human body through direct contact, then it will pose serious chronic health issues to the humans. (U.S. Department of Health And Human Services 1-29). 3. WHAT TYPES OF EXPOSURE AND RESPONSE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DDT? From the above study, it can be affirmed that there are various ways through which DDT can enter into the human body and cause severe complexities. Human beings are often exposed to this pesticide as this is sprayed in the houses and gardens in which human beings live in. In this similar context, the instance of Africa wherein WHO has allowed the use of this particular pesticide can be taken into concern. In terms of determining the exposure associated with DDT, it can be observed that human beings are also exposed to this particular pesticide in various ways through the form of having contaminated foods such as poultry, fish, and fatty meats among others (U.S. Department of Health And Human Services 1-29). If people tend to consume a food product that is imported from those countries that use DDT, further chances of exposure to the particular pesticide will increase by a certain degree (Berg, “Global Status of DDT and Its Alternatives for Use in Vector Control to Prevent Disease”). However, there are certain effective measures that can be adopted as well as executed in response to DDT. In this regard, this particular pesticide can be controlled by introducing improved health practices in the environment. If direct exposure to this pesticide is controlled by initiating improved health programmes and also by working upon new and alternative pesticides, then there lays the probability of preventing serious health hazards by a considerable level. Moreover, appropriate scientific methods are needed to be applied for reducing the chemical toxicity of the pesticide. Also, alternative options such as insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) should be made compulsory (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, “DDT, DDE, AND DDD”). From the above analysis, it can be ascertained that DDT is a pesticide which can be viewed as an effective anti-malaria tool and also pose serious health hazards to the human beings as well (U.S. Department of Health And Human Services 1-29). Thus, in this regard, WHO needs to strengthen its policies or procedures for the purpose of controlling widespread occurrence of malaria and most vitally ensuring that the health of human beings is not affected (Berg, “Global Status of DDT and Its Alternatives for Use in Vector Control to Prevent Disease”). 4. SHOULD THE WHO CONTINUE TO APPROVE THE USE OF DDT TO COMBAT MALARIA? As per the above analysis, it is clear that DDT acts as a strong deterrent to combat against malaria by a greater degree. From the standpoint of WHO, it is strongly needed to be recommended that strong alternative pesticides are needed to be developed so that the health of humans are not deteriorated. DDT should be banned because it poses critical threats to the human beings and also to the newborns. Also, there are possibilities of various diseases that can originate and impose adverse effects upon human health. Continuous exposure to DDT can give rise to serious chronic health problems that can effect in enduring damage of respiratory systems and lungs of the human beings. Therefore, WHO needs to strong rely on other alternative options that can very well combat the disease of malaria (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, “DDT, DDE, AND DDD”). Though DDT at certain times proved not to provide much harm to the human beings, still it can be viewed that WHO is making deliberate efforts to eradicate the disease of malaria globally depending largely upon DDT (Prato, Polimeni and Giribaldi, “DDT As Anti-Malaria Tool: The Bull in the China Shop or the Elephant in the Room?”). Works Cited Berg, Hank van den. Global Status of DDT and Its Alternatives for Use in Vector Control to Prevent Disease. Environmental Health Perspectives. Web. 11 Aug. 2013. “DDT, DDE, AND DDD.” Division of Toxicology ToxFAQs. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2002. Web. 11 Aug. 2013. Mauro, Prato, Manuela, Polimeni, and Giuliana, Giribaldi. “DDT As Anti-Malaria Tool: The Bull in the China Shop or the Elephant in the Room?”). Chapter 12, 2013. Web. 13 Aug. 2013. U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services, “Toxicological Profile for DDT, DDE, and DDD.” Public Health Service Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry:1-29. Print. 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