DDT, also known as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. It is a colorless, tasteless, odorless, and see through. DDT is an organochlorine that was created in 1874. DDT was commonly used in the second World War to control various diseases. DDT was used because it was cheap, reliable and lasted for an extended period of time in the environment.The effects of DDT. There are many effects related to DDT, though some benefits over rule these effects, they can not be ignored since they have a major effect on our eco-system. DDT is a very persistent chemical, it gets into and stays inside the fats of living organisms. Though it does not kill by disturbing the cells of an organism, they do open up the cell’s membrane so it can enter. Most of the time DDT opens up the membrane too much therefore leaving the cell to leak and allow the entrance of other harmful things such as sodium ions and potassium ions. …show more content…
Originally, DDT was thought to be harmless to humans and was used to control lice, as well as for agriculture uses. In 1968, a study showed that Americans consumed average of 0.025 milligrams of DDT per day. DDT is found in human milk. Since milk production is extremely dependent on the fats of the human, it is then transferred into the consumer. Though it hasn't been completely proven yet, some researchers say that DDT is a cause for breast cancer. The scientists are also saying that DDT is an estrogen mimic. In humans, more than 236 mg of DDT per kg of body weight can result in immediate death. Anything between 6-10 mg of DDT per kg of body weight can result in headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion and tremors. Are the benefits of DDT enough for us to dismiss all these dangers?DDT is for controlling and killing harmful insects. It is also used in agriculture to make any unwanted pests never come
Also depicted in this paper is the type of cancers caused by each chemical and other related health problems associated with each chemical. Finally, the role of government agencies such as FDA, EPA and OSHA in preventing excessive amount or zero amounts of toxic chemicals from entering the environment will be discussed. The last paragraphs will enumerate the inferred conclusion from my research on Agent Orange, DDT and Benzene.
DDT has been used since WW2 as an insecticide to control the outbreak of malaria and typhus among troops and civilians. This is because malaria is spread by mosquitos and DDT was considered to be a powerful in eliminating these populations, thus decreasing the infection rate for malaria. Since it was first discovered as an insecticide, worldwide it was used in very large amounts because nobody knew any better and it was considered to be revolutionary. It wasn’t until 1962, when biologist Rachel Carson first outlined the potential harm DDT has on the environment, believing it caused cancer in humans and harmed bird wildlife. This led to the United Stated ban of DDT use in 1972, and later, a worldwide ban under the Stockholm
In 1975, seemingly absurd predictions made in Rachel’s Carlson Silent Spring (1962) on human health and ecosystem hazards caused by DDT materialized in our James River, Virginia. Irresponsible chemical disposure from Life Science Products made workers ill from neurotoxin exposure, suffering from symptoms of nosebleeds, headaches, chest pains, and dizziness from neurotoxin exposure (Goldfarb, William). Ecosystem was destroyed animals leaving the area with 200,000 pounds of Kepone found on almost all land surfaces, and parts of the river (Wilson, Sarah).
”On those visits, I feel not only the spirit of the local people…and the seasonal change.”(345).Nowadays seasonal variation in industrial societies is minimized by importing many products that mature in specific seasons from different parts of the world. Technologies however, are impacting on our lives. “DDT would exert incredible selective pressure for mutations that would confer resistance” (347), it killed malaria-carrying mosquitoes but in few years large numbers of mosquitoes will return. It also has ecological damage the compound is ingested by many organisms, become concentrated up the food chain in a process called biomagnification. It causes heavy bird mortality.
Dioxin is persistent and does not break down for decades. “It could cling to soil particles and was washed downstream where it could be consumed by fish and wildlife that in turn was consumed by humans for food. Millions of Vietnamese lived in areas sprayed with Agent Orange, “nearly 5 million Vietnamese had been exposed to Agent Orange, which has since resulted in an estimated 400,000 deaths and disabilities and at least a half million children born with physical and/or mental birth defects across 3 generations” (Haynes, 2014). Vietnamese orphanages have children of men and women who were exposed to the dioxin from Agent Orange and couldn’t care for them so they are “discarded by their parents” (Kimmons, 2014). The Agent Orange Record web site lists ailments experienced by the Vietnamese that ranged from various cancers to skin
According to my academic “shortcomings,” I agree something did come short and I admit it was my lack of focus. It isn’t because I do not have an interest in my education, but simply many things worry me at once and eventually becomes overwhelming. Whether it is artistically or in academics, trying my best is beyond my intention. My overall purpose of my education and most importantly, clear understanding of the world around me (whether it might not make sense), is to build my life to where I can help others and myself.
In response to the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which expelled Native Americans from their homes, President Andrew Jackson said, “It will separate the Indians from immediate contact with settlements of whites; free them from the power of the States; enable them to pursue happiness in their own way and under their own rude institutions; will retard the process of decay, which is lessening their numbers,” (Jackson). It’s safe to say that Jackson proved to be a bad prophet. Almost two hundred years later, the “first Americans” now possess only a fraction of American land and face a litany of struggles. Of course, the demise of Native American culture and influence didn’t happen suddenly, but was a result of hundreds of years of oppression. Though European colonialism was a factor in Native American genocide, a critical analysis of specific American policies in the 19th century is crucial to understand how we got where we are today. Ultimately, a series of government actions that encouraged American settlement of the west created a snowball effect that drove American Indians to near extinction. The settlement of the American west had serious harmful implications on Native Americans through forced migration westward, theft of Indian land, and a series of wars with white settlers.
TCDD is a dioxin that can be produced through diesel exhaust, burning waste, and chemical manufacturing. In recent years, many have argued that exposure to this chemical can cause serious illnesses. Studies on animals have shown that TCDD is one of the most poisonous chemicals out there. The animal testing has been found to be especially toxic to developing babies in the womb. A pregnant rat given a dose of less than one part per billion (which is comparable to a single drop in 14,000 gallons of water) will cause female sexual characteristics in a male embryo. Doses of 100 parts per billion in rodents and fish have been proven to cause birth defects such as cleft palates, malfunctioning kidneys, heart problems, and weak bones (Schmidt). Animal studies have proven that small doses of TCDD can be severely detrimental to one’s
Carson’s other books, Under the Sea Wind, The Sea Around Us (which stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for 86 weeks), and The Edge of The Sea all focus on nature’s strength and the inter-connectedness of nature and all living things. But DDT exposed the vulnerability of nature and I think this influenced the writing of Silent Spring. DDT was the most powerful pesticide in the world at the time of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. Unlike most pesticides, whose effectiveness is limited to destroying one or two types of insects, DDT was capable of killing hundreds of different kinds at once. Developed in 1939, it first distinguished itself during World War II, clearing South Pacific islands of malaria-causing insects for U.S. troops, while in Europe being used as an effective de-lousing powder. Its inventor was awarded the Nobel Prize.
“The first television war” is a common term given to the Vietnam War - the first war where American families were able to see the horrors their sons were sent into. Consequently, the draft taking place was met with much resistance, and upon the boys’ return, the question of mental health was quickly raised. The families had seen for themselves, the carnage and bloodshed. If simply witnessing the horrors through a screen left people scarred, what would the effects of actually participating in the war do to a person? Once Vietnam soldiers returned home from war, the carnage witnessed led many to experience PTSD (both in the immediate and long term , which led to a broad range studies on PTSD specifically in these veterans immediately after
According to research, once the chemicals are released into the air, water, or the soil, it can cause a decline in health, which can possibly result in death. About three quarters of the chemicals that comes out
The first study involving DDT and DDE revolved around an examination of a Bolivian birth cohort in January and March of 2013. In this Santa Cruz study, the scientists were discovering whether there was potential association of maternal serum level of o,p’-DDT and p,p’-DDE with gestation time in combination with anthropometric measurements and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels of newborns. Two hundred participants were monitored over the specified time frame. The scientists analyzed the gestational age, newborn weight, head circumference, ponderal index, birth height, and lastly, the TSH levels. They quantified the DDT by cord serum using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Using linear regressions, POP concentrations, the independent
It would appear that DDT would be the obvious choice to prevent cases of malaria in developing nations and all over the world. However, DDT is not without its potential hazards. DDT was used as a pesticide in the United States until it was banned in 1972. First employed as an insecticide in 1939, the white powder would kill massive amounts of mosquito larvae. Paul Müller actually won the Nobel Prize for first using the chemical on insects. The pesticide was used throughout the United States to combat more kinds of insect-pests such as gypsy moths. It was not
Throughout his essay, Suzuki supports his arguments with specific examples. To justify his reasoning, the author uses the case of DDT, otherwise known as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. This chemical compound is used as an insecticide to eliminate the population of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, which it did effectively, and saved millions of lives. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, complications arose, which led to an increase in chemicals and caused a domino effect of
Skeleton implies that the food that we make contribute to disease and sickness which leads to death. Vast majority of the food on the table were crops and the abbreviation “DDT” was also seen in the middle between two chandeliers. “DDT” was quite shocking to me, when I saw it on a 1995 painting. Evidence suggest that dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) has been banned in 1972 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Who would have thought 20 years later, Hollis Sigler still included this irrelevant information in her painting? No doubt that some parts of the world are currently using DDT as insecticide to control disease like Malaria. But if this painting were to be exhibit in America, what kind of activism value does it holds? Well, she tried her best to make her point on unsafe food which is still prevalent in the world today, as the old saying goes “We are what we eat”. However, according to Cornell University, DDT and its intermediate end products does not show carcinogenic properties in human. Therefore, in my view, Hollis Sigler almost make us believe in