Global Status of DDT and Its Alternatives for Use in Vector Control to Prevent Disease

doi:10.1289/ehp.0900785

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Environ Health Perspect. 2009 Nov; 117(11): 1656–1663.

Published online 2009 May 29. doi: 10.1289/ehp.0900785

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Table 1

Annual global production and use of DDT (in 10³ kg active ingredient) in 2003, 2005, and 2007.

Country	2003	2005	2007	Comment	Source
Produce DDT for vector control
China^a	450	490	NA	For export	Pd
India^b	4,100	4,250	4,495	For malaria and leishmaniasis	Pd, Ws, Dc
DPRK	NA	NA	5	> 155 metric tons for use in agriculture	UNITAR
Global production	> 4,550	> 4,740	> 4,500

Use DDT for vector control
Cameroon	0	0	0	Plan to pilot in 2009	WHO
China	0	0	0	Discontinued use in 2003	SC
Eritrea	13	15	15	Epidemic-prone areas	Qu, WHO
Ethiopia	272	398	371	Epidemic-prone areas	WHO, Ws
Gambia	0	0	NA	Reintroduction in 2008	Dc
India	4,444	4,253	3,413	For malaria and leishmaniasis	WHO, Dc
DPRK	NA	NA	5	> 155 metric tons used in agriculture	UNITAR
Madagascar	45	0	0	Plan to resume use in 2009	Qu
Malawi	0	0	0	Plan to pilot in 2009	WHO
Mauritius	1	1	< 1	To prevent malaria introduction	Qu
Morocco	1	1	0	For occasional outbreaks	Qu
Mozambique	0	308	NA	Reintroduction in 2005	WHO
Myanmar	1	1	NA	Phasing out	Ws
Namibia	40	40	40	Long-term use	WHO
Papua New Guinea	NA	NA	0	No recent use reported	SC
South Africa	54	62	66	Reintroduction in 2000	Qu, WHO
Sudan	75	NA	0	No recent use reported	Qu, WHO
Swaziland	NA	8	8	Long-term use	WHO
Uganda	0	0	NA	High Court prohibited use, 2008	SC, Dc
Zambia	7	26	22	Reintroduction in 2000	Ws, Qu, WHO
Zimbabwe	0	108	12	Reintroduction in 2004	WHO
Global use	> 4,953	> 5,219	> 3,950

Abbreviations: Dc: Direct communication with national authorities; NA, not available; Pd: project proposals submitted to the Global Environment Facility; Qu: questionnaire on DDT by the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention completed by national autorities; SC: documents published by the Secretariat; Ws: workshop presentations by country delegates in the context of the Stockholm Convention. Further information was obtained from the WHO and UNITAR reports, as indicated.

^aThe figure for 2005 was extrapolated from the total production; in addition to production for vector control, DDT is produced for Dicofol manufacture (~ 3,800 metric tons per year) and for antifoulant paints (~ 200 metric tons per year).

^bDDT is also produced for dicofol manufacture (~ 280 metric tons per year).