CONTINUED USE OF D.D.T.

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6568, 20 September 1948, Page 8

CONTINUED USE OF D.D.T.

“NO HARMFUL EFFECTS ON HUMANS’’ VIEWS EXPRESSED IN MEDICAL JOURNAL Discussing a widespread opinion that D.D.T. was harmful' to humans, an article in a recent issue of the “British Medical Journal” said that an investigation in Iran gave no reason for the belief that the continual use of D.D.T. in kerosene in a concentration of 3.1 per cent, caused any toxic effects. Residual spraying of D.D.T.* was started in Abadan in 1946, said the article, when the solvent used was commercial kerosene. The sprayers, young men of the sweeper class, were examined after nine months of fairly continuous exposure, and at the same time a group of sanitary workers was examined. The results the investigation were added confirmation to previously expressed opinions by doctors that D.D.T. in its insecticidal form was perfectly safe. Protective clothing was offered to the D-D.T. workers, but because of the high temperature the only equipment they would consent to use was overalls and goggles, the latter but rarely. The workers were compared with sanitary workers, especially for weight and blood pressure, without any significant difference being observed. - The authors of the article added that they agreed that it was unfortunate that kerosene was the commonest cheapest, and most readily available solvent, and suggested that a less noxious solvent should be used, or greater use made of emulsions where they were practicable.