Ddt can cause cancer and infertility

The DDT insecticide is strong and effective against the malaria mosquito, but it can also cause damage to health, when it comes into contact with the skin or is inhaled through the air, during spraying and therefore those who live in places where malaria is frequent and this insecticide is used should avoid staying inside the house on the day the house is being treated, and avoid touching the walls that are usually whitish because of the poison.

What to do in case of suspected contamination

In case of suspected contamination, you should go to the doctor indicating what happened and the symptoms you have. The doctor may order tests to identify if there was contamination, how serious it is and the remedies needed to control the symptoms, reducing the risk of complications.

Although the use of DDT was banned in Brazil in 2009, this insecticide is still used to combat malaria in Asia and Africa because these are regions where there are constant cases of malaria, which is difficult to control. DDT was also banned in the United States because it was discovered that it is a toxic product that can remain in the soil for more than 20 years, contaminating the environment.

DDT is sprayed on walls and ceilings inside and outside the houses and any insect that is in contact with it dies immediately and must be burned so that it is not ingested by other larger animals that may also die from poisoning.

Symptoms of DDT insecticide poisoning

Initially DDT affects the respiratory system and the skin, but in high doses it can affect the peripheral nervous system and cause liver and kidney poisoning. The first symptoms of DDT insecticide poisoning include:

Headache; Redness in the eyes; Itchy skin; Stains on the body; Nausea; Diarrhea; Bleeding from the nose and Sore throat.

After months of contamination, the pesticide DDT can still leave symptoms such as:

Asthma; Joint pain; Numbness in the regions of the body that have been in contact with the insecticide; Trembling; Convulsions; Kidney problems.

In addition, contact with DDT disrupts estrogen production, decreasing fertility and increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and the likelihood of breast, liver and thyroid cancer.

Exposure to DDT during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage and delayed child development because the substance passes through the placenta to the baby and is also present in breast milk.

How to treat DDT poisoning

The remedies that can be used vary because it depends on how the person was exposed to the insecticide. While some people experience only allergy-related symptoms such as itching and redness in the eyes and skin, which can be controlled with anti-allergy remedies, others may experience more severe symptoms of shortness of breath, with asthma. In this case, asthma control drugs are indicated. Those who have already been exposed to the insecticide can often experience pain in the muscles and joints that can be relieved with pain relievers.

Depending on the type of complication, treatment may last for months, years or may even need to be treated for life.