As the title suggests, there is a direct link between the
DDT insecticide and susceptibility to obesity. Michael Skinner of Washington
State University has done research of DDT on rats, and has discovered
significant increases in obese rats at the third generation of exposure to DDT in comparison to the first and second generations. This
discovery thus leads to a possible conclusion to our current problems in obesity, as well as other diseases, such as kidney disease, testes abnormalities, and polycystic ovarian disease. According to Skinner, DDT
exposure triggered epigenetic changes in rats, and altered DNA expression. This
mutation was then passed on to the next generations. It is very important,
however, to recognize that DDT has been able to control malaria in Africa, and
the eradication of this insecticide could potentially kill millions of lives.
Therefore, we must make a vital decision about the future use of this substance
banned in the United States.
No comments:
Post a Comment