Barbara Cohn et al. (2007) argue as based from their extensive research that DDT exposure increases the risk of breast cancer among female individuals. In their study wherein they used blood samples from members of Child Health and Developmental Studies in Oakland California, they found out that exposures to high levels of DDT during early childhood greatly increase the chances of acquiring breast cancer. They report a five-fold increased risk of breast cancer among women exposed to high levels of serum p,p`-DDT in the United States.
(Cohn et al. , 2007 p. 1410) This was seen during 1945 when DDT usage became widespread and those who were born after 1931 did not reached 50 years of age. They conclude that public exposure to DDT at a young age is very risky for their health. They use three (3) factors as basis for their conclusion: (1) long latency of the perceived effects of breast cancer, (2) large percent of women population exposed to DDT around the world, and (c) their findings that women who were exposed to DDT at a young age are more affected. (Cohn et al., 2007)
The International Programme on Chemical Safety reports on the effects of DDT on two major parts of the human body: (1) the nervous system, and (2) the liver. Experimental studies on animals show that DDT exposure has a major impact on the nervous system. Single or repeated doses of DDT on animals can cause tremor , hyper excitability, ataxia , and epileptiform convulsions. Death could be the result of failure of the respiratory system due to convulsive poisoning. DDT exposure has also a huge impact on the liver.
Reports show that fatal doses of DDT can result to focal necrosis of liver cells on some species. Felix Garcia et al. (2004) researched on reproductive effects of human exposure to DDT. They used the workers in the anti-malaria campaign of Mexico in gathering the sufficient data for analysis. They discovered an amplified risk of having birth defects on newborn infants as a result of high exposures of DDT from these workers. On abortion and sex ratio, no relation pertaining to DDT exposure was found.
(Garcia et al. 2004) Animal studies suggest that exposures to DDT are associated with congenital malformations like sexual dimorphism , endocrine disruption, lower testicular weight and number of implanted fetuses, and low fertility rate and sperm counts. (Garcia et al. , 2004 p. 546) Joanne Silberner (2006) adds that DDT can also weaken the immune system. Aside from that, DDT can be ingested because it collects in fatty tissues of animals, in fruits and vegetables, and in breast milk.