Response to the Letter by Paumgartten F.

Abstract

We thank Dr Paumgartten for his thoughtful letter regarding our recent paper, DDT Exposure in Utero and Breast Cancer (1). There is strong evidence that dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane affects several mechanisms that can operate in humans (2). We applaud your recognition that our analysis of HER2 and the work of other researchers, recently summarized by International Agency for Research on Cancer (2), supports modes of action other than those by action on estrogen receptors. New epidemiological and experimental studies are needed to further evaluate the possible importance of early-life exposure to dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane, which remains unresolved (2).