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The Challenge of Parasite Control
Published in Eric S. Loker, Bruce V. Hofkin, Parasitology, 2023
Eric S. Loker, Bruce V. Hofkin
Many alternatives to DDT exist and insecticides are still widely used to reduce vector density. Examples include the organophosphates like malathion and the pyrethroids. Organophosphates work by inhibiting acetylcholinesterases (enzymes that hydrolyze the neurotransmitter acetylcholine) in insects. Pyrethroids, similar to compounds produced by pyrethrum flowers, act in a manner similar to DDT in that they disrupt sodium ion channel proteins on neurons. Many of these compounds, however, raise some of the same issues as DDT. Organophosphates are toxic to humans and other animals. Pyrethroids, generally harmless to humans, are toxic to aquatic organisms.
Naturopathic Medicine and the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease
Published in Stephen T. Sinatra, Mark C. Houston, Nutritional and Integrative Strategies in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2022
There is speculation that exposure to pesticides before birth may lead to greater susceptibility to hypertension in adulthood. DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is a pesticide banned in the United States decades ago, but still used worldwide for indoor malaria vector control, and as a pesticide in countries outside the United States. Today, DDT is still found in our soil and indoor air samples, and continues to infiltrate our bodies due to its long half-life and semivolatility. In a birth cohort study following women into their fifth decade of life, prenatals exposed to DDT were at higher risk for developing hypertension in adulthood.107 The implications of this study are enormous considering the plethora of toxins found in prenatals today.
One Health
Published in Rebecca A. Krimins, Learning from Disease in Pets, 2020
DDT was developed in the 1940s to combat malaria, typhus, and other insect-borne diseases to significant success, but its indiscriminate use, environmental persistence, and its negative impact on wildlife brought a ban on its use in 1972 in the United States. DDT is now one of 12 chemicals identified as persistent organic pollutants, which are restricted in production and use across the world under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. It should be noted that the World Health Organization still supports the use of DDT in controlled, indoor applications for combating malaria (the spraying of walls and ceilings where mosquitoes will land), in part because of its long residual efficacy.31
Visceral leishmaniasis elimination in India: progress and the road ahead
Published in Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, 2022
Om Prakash Singh, Shyam Sundar
The World Health Organization-supported visceral leishmaniasis (VL) elimination initiative in India does not aim at zero transmission of L. donovani, but at ‘reducing the VL incidence rates in the region below levels of public health concern’ [43]. These were empirically defined as an incidence rate below 1 per 10,000 population per year at sub-district or block PHCs level. Key components of the strategy are the prompt diagnosis and treatment of clinical VL and vector control by systematic indoor residual spraying (IRS) [26]. Vector control is an important tool in bringing down the transmission of the disease. Earlier, insecticides like DDT and deltamethrin were used for vector management, but these were not very effective. Alpha cypermethrin is now being used in control program. However, supply of spray equipments and availability of man power are still major issue and needs to be improved.
In vitro effect of DDE exposure on the regulation of B-TC-6 pancreatic beta cell insulin secretion: a potential role in beta cell dysfunction and type 2 diabetes mellitus
Published in Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 2021
Antonio B. Ward, Mary B. Dail, Janice E. Chambers
Human exposure to DDT occurs primarily through consumption of contaminated food especially meat, fish and dairy products (Lee et al. 2014). Metabolism is similar in humans and rodents with the stable metabolite, p,p’-DDE, being found at higher concentrations than DDT throughout the body in proportion to the tissue’s lipid content. Since excretion is slow, both DDT and DDE may persist in the human body for decades after exposure (ATSDR, 2019). Although both are found in human serum, DDE levels have shown a better correlation to obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance (Lee et al. 2011) so we chose to focus on the effect of DDE exposure. The purpose of this study was to investigate in vitro DDE’s ability to alter mechanisms that regulate pancreatic insulin secretion in response to changes in glucose levels.
Pyrethroid based pesticides – chemical and biological aspects
Published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 2021
Anandha Rao Ravula, Suresh Yenugu
The major breakthrough in the development of pesticides started during World War II with the production of environmentally persistent first-generation synthetic pesticides namely, the organochlorines; and prominent among them were aldrin and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). The second-generation organophosphate pesticides such as malathion were discovered between 1950 and 1955 followed by triazine weedicides during 1955–1960 and their usage reached its peak by 1961. Owing to the public attention toward excessive usage of pesticides and the health hazards elegantly described in the famous book “Silent Spring”, the use of pesticides decreased drastically by 1962 (Carson 1962). Following this, a new method of integrated pest management (IPM) came into existence in which biological predators or parasites were used to control pests. Albeit the population of pests reduced significantly, IPM methods did not display substantial effect akin to chemical pesticides. During 1970–1980s, pyrethroids, sulfonylureas, synthetic fungicides and other chemical pesticides were introduced. DDT was completely banned in USA followed by restrictions on usage of endosulfan, dieldrin and lindane in early 1970s. An international treaty derived at Stockholm Convention held in 2001 to which 179 nations were signatories, resolved to completely ban the use of twelve persistent organic pollutants including DDT (SCPOP 2001). On the same lines, European Union (EU) supported to ban on the use of nicotinoids in 2013.