The Pros And Cons Of DDT

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

”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.

DDT and other chlorinated hydrocarbons are very fat soluble so when these chemicals are sprayed on plants and these plants get eaten by animal the chlorinated hydrocarbon gets in the animal's fat. Then that animal get eaten by another animal and now that has the chlorinated

When DDT became available for civilian use in 1945, there were only a few people who expressed second thoughts about this new miracle compound. One was nature writer Edwin Way Teale, who warned, "A spray as indiscriminate as DDT can upset the economy of nature as much as a revolution upsets social economy. Ninety percent of all insects are good, and if they are killed, things go out of kilter right away." Another was Rachel Carson, who wrote to the Reader's Digest to propose an article about a series of tests on DDT being conducted not far from where she lived in Maryland. The magazine rejected the idea.

1. Carlson classifies modern insecticides into two groups of chemicals. The first group, represented by DDT, is known as the “chlorinated hydrocarbons” and the other group, represented by Malathion and parathion, consists of the organic phosphorus insecticides. Although both are organic, the organic phosphorous insecticides are more poisonous than the chlorinated hydrocarbons and have the ability to destroy enzymes.

There is no scientific proof done by researchers to provide any evidence the chemical might do harm, but there isn’t any research that says it does no harm with exposure overtime. The precautionary principle relies on our history with asbestos, PCB, and chlorofluorocarbons destroying the ozone. Therefore, a strength in the precautionary principle is the research it acquires in order to provide enough evidence a chemical like DDT can become more harmful than beneficial. However, the precautionary principle is only based on skepticism and not actual data found from trials in research. The precautionary principle has the capacity to save lives by reducing the human race and planet Earth from being exposed to dangerous chemicals. However, the implications of using the precautionary principle can lead to several deaths to diseases like West Nile Virus and Malaria because of the DDT ban based on skepticism and history

DDT can help get rid of a lot of insects even the ones that can cut off important resources to us.

administration was ready to ban the chlorpyrifos,” but he states that, “By reversing the previous Administration’s steps to ban one of the most widely used pesticides in the world, we are returning to using sound science in decision-making--rather than predetermined results”

While DDT is good for killing bugs, it is also really good at breaking down our foods. One study by the President's Cancer Panel showed that girls exposed to DDT before puberty are five times more likely to develop breast cancer in middle age. Really the only good thing that comes from DDT is that it’s a possible solution for malaria control, but even then it’s rare that DDT is the most effective option. The dangers and harmful effects of DDT are too dangerous and society as a whole needs to stop using

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

The mosquito is a murderous insect which cause many diseases especially malaria. Malaria is a debilitating disease didn’t which is prevalent in underdeveloped countries especially in sub-Saharan Africa. It claims millions of lives worldwide and affect children under the age of 5 more than any other group. Over the years, scientists have discovered and development several solutions to this problem. One of those solution is DDT short for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, this substance is an insecticide use to kill pest such as mosquitoes. Scientists figure that the pesticide should prevent dangerous mosquitoes from infecting human with diseases. Many people believe that this pesticide is the best solution to reducing malaria. They back up their claims by using research results with conducted that DDT save many lives globally. They are outrage at the fact that DDT is ban in many countries. DDT advocate clearly do not see any problem with the use of DDT despite its many negative side effect associated with it. DDT, like many pesticide is known to negatively impact human health and the environment. There are many reasons why governmental around the global have decide to protect their people and environment by banding the pesticide. DDT should not be used by anyone because it causes more harm and good, it is unethical, and there are safer alternative available.

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

With every new and stronger pesticides humans use the more immune the insects get to it. Worldwide, more than 500 species of insects, mites, and spiders have developed some level of pesticide resistance even some plant pathogens have also become resistant to it. The more resistant to pesticides insects become, the more humans will have to use.

DDT was one of the first chemicals in widespread use as a pesticide. It has gotten banned in many countries. DDT stands for Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and it’s a gas that is tasteless and almost odorless. It’s known for its insecticidal properties. Now ddt has some pros and cons and shows there is a chance of bringing it back because of mosquitoes that carry diseases. Some pros of this chemical are: it’s cheap so it makes it an easier source instead of trying to get the more expensive and safer products. It is also the most effective way of stopping malaria. The life span of DDT is longer than other chemicals as well. Some cons of this is it it VERY harmful to birds and can even kill them. DDT kills off local bird population causing it

Selective pressures acting on the organism: DDT was used in hope to prevent malaria as it would decrease the population of the harmful mosquitoes carrying the many fatal diseases. The nerve cells of the mosquitoes began to fire, causing spasms from which they eventually died, after coming into contact with the DDT.