The banning of DDT (1034 hits)
Category: Science & EnvironmentalRating: 1.72 on 20 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by <veritatislocutor.at.netscape.net> (View user info) at 2003-04-25 16:11:17 EDT
DDT the first of the chlorinated organic insecticides, was originally prepared in 1873, but it was not until 1939 that Paul Muller of Geigy Pharmaceutical in Switzerland discovered the effectiveness of DDT as an insecticide he was awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine and physiology in 1948 for this discovery).
The use of DDT increased enormously on a worldwide basis after World War II, primarily because of its effectiveness against the mosquito that spreads malaria and lice that carry typhus. The World Health Organization estimates that during the period of its use approximately 25 million lives were saved. DDT seemed to be the ideal insecticideit is cheap and of relatively low toxicity to mammals (oral LD50 is 300 to 500 mg/kg). However, problems related to extensive use of DDT began to appear in the late 1940s. Many species of insects developed resistance to DDT, and DDT was also discovered to have a high toxicity toward fish.
The chemical stability of DDT and its fat solubility compounded the problem. DDT is not metabolized very rapidly by animals; instead, it is deposited and stored in the fatty tissues. The biological half-life of DDT is about eight years; that is, it takes about eight years for an animal to metabolize half of the amount it assimilates. If ingestion continues at a steady rate, DDT builds up within the animal over time.
Compounding the problem, DDT had an unforseen side-effect that appeared when many species of birds contaminated with DDT -- including the endangered bald eagle--laid their eggs. The presence of DDT inhibited the proper formation of the egg shell, leaving the newly-hatched eggs too thin and brittle to survive exposure, killing the developing chicks inside. The decrease in live hatchings was noted by Rachel Carson, whose book "Silent Spring" lead the campaign to outlaw the insecticide. Carson also documented how the chemical caused birth defects, cancer, and genetic damage in many speices--including humans
DDT was banned for all use in the United States on June 30, 1972.
User Reviews
Submitted by dbcooper (user info) at 2003-09-03 16:40:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
What is the point of this post? Who gives a shit about DDT anymore?
Submitted by antluvdog (user info) at 2003-04-26 01:32:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 because I'm so drunk I feel like I drank DDT.
Submitted by Random Joe at 2003-04-25 22:47:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
if it wasn't for oddz's 0, this would have been the best post ever
Submitted by Titinita (user info) at 2003-04-25 22:11:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Hey farmer farmer, put away the DDT now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Plea-ee-ee-ees
Submitted by lnknptheory (user info) at 2003-04-25 21:53:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
lol...nice.
Submitted by chipolatte (user info) at 2003-04-25 21:52:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
lol.
Submitted by dasteve (user info) at 2003-04-25 21:14:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Perfect.
Submitted by Random Joe at 2003-04-25 20:50:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by oddzandendz (user info) at 2003-04-25 20:30:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
shit and i didnt even giver tha 2....my bad
Submitted by oddzandendz (user info) at 2003-04-25 20:30:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
could this be the greatest post ever? Definately the most on-topic and timeley.
Submitted by PeopleAreStrange (user info) at 2003-04-25 18:36:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Clever name for him though isn't it.
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2003-04-25 17:43:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by scott_ny (user info) at 2003-04-25 17:12:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent!
Submitted by nemo (user info) at 2003-04-25 17:09:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by jtber (user info) at 2003-04-25 16:26:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2003-04-25 16:23:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I like the part about DDT being cheap.
Submitted by Hardak (user info) at 2003-04-25 16:22:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
hahahahahaha
rockin good!
Submitted by hidden101 (user info) at 2003-04-25 16:16:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
that was pure GENIUS!
i would give you a +100 if i could.
Submitted by Razor (user info) at 2003-04-25 16:13:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+4 for you!
Submitted by Razor (user info) at 2003-04-25 16:13:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I came here to give you a -2 for posting ANOTHER thread on this. Boy did you make me feel like a dumbass.