Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL), which is the sole manufacturer of DDT in the country, has called for removal of ?wrong perception? on the product which, it said, is the most effective toll in the national disease vector control programme in India.

In a letter to the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), no impact of clinical significance on health has been found due to use of DDT as indoor residual spray.

According to HIL, DDT is the most effective tool in the national disease vector control programme in India.

"By using DDT, malaria incidence in India has come down from 75 million in the 1950s to 1.4 million during the first decade of the 21st century," it said.

HIL said that a recently-concluded DDT expert group committee (a subsidiary body of Stockholm Convention) recommended that there is continued need for DDT for disease vector control.

"Lack of effectiveness in specific situations of the current alternative products used in indoor residual spraying compared to DDT is one of the main reasons that DDT continues to be used in malaria control."

DDT is a persistent organic pollutant (POP) chemical listed under the Stockholm Convention of POPs with specific exemption for acceptable purposes for production and use under Annex-B.

"WHO conducted an expert consultation in 2010 to assess the risks arising from DDT use in indoor residual spraying and concluded that the levels of exposure reported in studies are below levels of concern for health," it said.

HIL also coordinated a study on the effects of DDT and the results "concluded that there is no impact of clinical significance on health has been found due to use of DDT as indoor residual spray".

HIL requested the DCPC to take a lead and help in "removing wrong perception" on DDT.