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Decline in male fertility may be linked to insecticide

BMJ 1995; 311 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.311.6996.11a (Published 01 July 1995) Cite this as: BMJ 1995;311:11

New research suggests that a decline in male fertility and an increase in male reproductive abnormalities are linked to the insecticide dicophane (DDT). The study, conducted at the US Environmental Protection Agency and the University of North Carolina, found that the persistent metabolite of dicophane, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE),has the traits of a potent antiandrogen. The conclusions reached were published in Nature last week.

DDT was thought to be a wonder weapon

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Although dicophane has been banned or restricted for two decades in the developed world, its persistence means that it can still be traced in all humans. It is still in widespread use in many malarial zones, from …

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