Discussions and studies on the health consequences of DDT use have focused around reducing infant illness and death from vector control. "In laboratory experiments, effects of DDT include hepatic and central nervous system toxicity, estrogenic and antiandrogenic effects, and possible carcinogenicity" (Chen and Rogan, 2003). Some evidence has suggested that DDT exposure increases the risk of preterm delivery and shortens the length of lactation. If this evidence holds true then these conditions could increase the rate of infant deaths and thus void any benefits on mortality rates from a reduction in malaria. In a study conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Studies, it was found that the association between DDT exposure and infant illness and death were causal and the effects were very small compared to the conceivable benefits from vector control (Chen and Rogan, 2003).

When doing re-evaluations of DDT, the World Health Organization works hard to...
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