How can DDT, DDE, and DDD affect my health?
DDT affects the nervous system. People who accidentally swallowed large amounts of DDT became excitable and had tremors and seizures. These effects went away after the exposure stopped. No effects were seen in people who took small daily doses of DDT by capsule for 18 months. People who worked with DDT for a long time had some reversible changes in the levels of liver enzymes. In animals, short-term exposure to large amounts of DDT in food affected the nervous system. In animals, long-term exposure to DDT affected the liver. Animal studies suggest that short-term exposure to DDT in food may have a harmful effect on reproduction. How likely are DDT, DDE, and DDD to cause cancer? The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that DDT may reasonably be anticipated to be a human carcinogen. DHHS has not classified DDE and DDD, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that they are probable human carcinogens. Liver cancer has been seen in animals that
