Health Effects Of DDT
Text Box: Between 1947 and 1971 Montrose Chemicals in Torrance CA flushed more than 100 tons of DDT into the county sewer system. Fish caught in the area of Whites Point have levels of DDT and its biological metabolites DDE, and DDD that are well above government safety standards. DDT, DDE and DDD are now known human carcinogens that have been shown to increase the risk of Breast Cancer fivefold. These persistent organic pollutants (POP) have also been linked to liver and testicular cancer. These POP’s are also potent neurotoxins that have been shown to cause significant neurodevelopmental delay in children who acquire them thru breast milk. Exposure to DDT and DDE even at low levels are associated with decreased verbal, memory and perceptual performance skills in preschoolers. This group of POP’s is chemically similar to human estrogen (female sex hormone) and has been shown to interfere with human reproduction and cause birth defects in the male reproductive organs of children exposed in the womb. These POP’s are only detrimental to the reproduction of two species of predatory birds (Eagles an Falcons). Over 10 million dollars in settlement funds have been spent on remediation efforts which has drastically improved successful nesting and reproduction on Catalina and the channel islands. Presently there is a thriving fish and bird population in the local area !! There is significant federal funding available for studying and protecting this area !! Public outreach projects to reduce the amount of fish intake in this area have not been very successful and many people still actively fish in this area !! There is a petition by concerned Physicians and Nurses practicing and residing in Los Angeles County who after reviewing the DDT health effects studies mentioned, stand against adopting any form of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) that would lead to increased fishing activity in the Whites point Superfund area and encourage closure of recreational fishing and commercial fishing for human consumption in areas known to contain fish with POP levels above the government safety standards. This petition was presented to the MLPA south coast science advisory team (SAT) on April 1 2009 requesting them to re-examine the recommendations for water quality as designations of appropriate habitat selection and to consider the potential secondary human health impact marine closures will have to citizens of Los Angeles. A request for the SAT to appoint a public health expert and get additional input from the county departments of public health was made at that time. For more background information on DDT and the health effects mentioned Visit http://www.panna.org/ddt/health For information on the Montrose Superfund Site Visit http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/msrphome.html Click on the picture for link to document