It's Time to Spray DDT

NY Times ^ | January 8, 2005 | NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

[cyborg]

If they aren't going to use DDT here, they shouldn't use it anywhere.

[goldstategop]

I'm astonished - now if Nicholas D. Kristof would become a neocon, I might applaud him. DDT is one of the safest chemicals known to mankind. And yes, we should save human lives first. The fewer noxious chemicals that have to be sprayed, the safer its for the environment. Bring back DDT!

[Terabitten]

But this time around, I was also struck by something that did not occur to me when I first read the book in the early 1980's. In her 297 pages, Rachel Carson never mentioned the fact that by the time she was writing, DDT was responsible for saving tens of millions of lives, perhaps hundreds of millions. DDT killed bald eagles because of its persistence in the environment.

Maybe you can help with this. I seem to recall reading that Rachel Carson's research had been well and thoroughly debunked - she'd cooked the numbers, or something similar. Am I right or just imagining things again?

[backhoe]

West Nile Virus- Bring Back DDT?

[neverdem]

Did you forget your /sarcasm or are you serious?

[writer33]

The chemical name for Digon is Dimethoate, used to kill active mosquitoes during the season. Agnique is used to kill mosquito eggs on the water. Of course you can't use it on water where fish are. It kills them as well.

[superskunk]

DDT is probably the single best pesticide I've ever used. Why not bring back? It is effective.

[Finalapproach29er]

I understand it safe for humans. But:


I thought overuse of it made the some bird egg shells soft, and the mother would squish them-killing the offspring? (bald eagle,trumpter swan...)

I'm pretty sure that much is true. Any evidence to the contrary (RE: birds)?

[superskunk]

I'm pretty sure that much is true. Any evidence to the contrary (RE: birds)?

It is true. Not exactly good for crop dusting, but still the best pesticide I know of.

[neverdem]

Maybe you can help with this. I seem to recall reading that Rachel Carson's research had been well and thoroughly debunked - she'd cooked the numbers, or something similar. Am I right or just imagining things again?

I'm no authority on Carson, and I can't tell you if she was completely debunked. I'm pretty sure they went from using DDT like it was candy to a total ban. After that raptors at the top of the food chain apparently had more eggs producing live chicks, but I'm no authority on the matter.

Too much environmental science has been politicized. I'm not sure if there are other better explanations of why eagle populations in particular recovered, but it seems to me they went from the sublime to ridiculous with the total ban of DDT and mosquito borne diseases.

[Finalapproach29er]

Maybe if we we're careful in how it would be used by local governments, we could avoid harming the majestic birds (who gives a crap about robins and common birds), and everyone could be satisfied.

I'd like to see if authorities have careful rules already established. Sounds promising.

[lainde]

bttt

[superskunk]

I'd like to see if authorities have careful rules already established. Sounds promising.

That is the way to go. I've used it. It's a great chemical for local application. Crop dusting large areas just produces too much overkill.

[neverdem]

Thanks for posting the article. Happy New Year!

[neverdem]

West Nile Virus- Bring Back DDT?

Why not? You should have heard all the p@ssing and moaning in and around New York City when they were spraying with an alternate insecticde for West Nile Virus. Thanks for the link. Happy New Year!

[jocon307]

"I'm pretty sure they went from using DDT like it was candy to a total ban."

That's always the problem, the extremeism. We really should strive for a more nuanced approach to a lot of things.

[backhoe]

My kind regards to you-

[cyborg]

I am serious. If DDT isn't going to be used in this country why push it on poor people? We have enough chemicals in our food chain already. DDT is an environmental fish poison. If it kills fish, exactly what is it doing to me in the long run? I am not convinced.

[E.G.C.]

BTT!!!!!!

[SouthCarolinaKit]

I agree 100% with the usage of DDT here but will the
gov't have the cajones to stand up to the enviro-nazis?
They've been screaming about 'bad for children' on talk radio.
Is it a requirement that membership in this group: enviro-nazi, not be capable fo rational thoguht? That's my guess. . . they think with their emotions only, just as all other 'RATs do.