Nonfiction Reading Response #3

    In, “DDT Linked to High Blood Pressure in Women” by Lindsey Konkel and Environmental Heath News, women that are exposing to DDT when pregnant has a risk of high blood pressure later on in life. DDT is a commonly used insecticide; it is also a form of chemical. Even though DDT was banned in the U.S since 1972, it is still used in Africa as a “combat to malaria infected mosquitoes.” Research shows that women who are exposed to these chemicals could potentially develop high blood pressure later on.

 Exposure to DDT is very dangerous for pregnant women. “DDT interferes with hormones and it has been linked to decreased fertility, preterm delivery and diabetes” (Konkel and Environmental Health News 1). Since during pregnancy, whatever the mom is exposing to, the children does too, through the placenta. This can directly harm the growing fetus inside the womb. Statistics show that out of 111 children whose had been exposing to DDT, 21% had hypertension. Hypertension is caused by DDT and it might also lead to stroke and heart diseases. DDT is very dangerous for pregnant women.

       DDT also causes high blood pressure in women. It specifically targets the area in the body where the blood pressure is kept in control. Studies show that “pesticide applicators with high blood pressure had higher DDT exposures than those with healthy blood pressure” (Konkel and Environmental Health News 1). Approximately 2/3 of the people exposing to DDT had 2.5 to 3.6 times more likely to have high blood pressure before the age of 50. DDT causes high blood pressure.

       However, scientists cannot say that high pressure and hypertension is directly caused by exposing to DDT chemicals. High blood pressure can also be caused by previous diabetes, and factors like age, race, and body mass also contribute a part to it (Konkel and Environmental Health News 1). Many factors of high pressure and hypertension are not tested to confirm that DDT is the cause. “It also is impossible to know whether some women had undiagnosed high blood pressure or how blood pressure levels differed across exposure groups” (Konkel and Enviromental Heath News 1). High pressure can also be a result of obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and socioeconomic stress. There is not enough evidence to say that DDT is the cause.

       Scientific evidence, data, and research show that even though DDT does create a greater risk for high blood pressure, however many other factors can be contributed too. High blood pressure and hypertension are the worst things that we would ever want to be diagnose with. To prevent this from happening on any one of us, we need to make sure that we be extremely careful during pregnancy and keep track of what we eat every day.

                                                   Work Cited
Konkel, Linsey and Enviromental Health News. "DDT Linked to High Blood Pressure in Women: Scientific American." DDT Linked to High Blood Pressure in Women: Scientific American. Scientific American, a Division of Nature America, Inc., 12 Mar. 2013. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.