Current Solutions for DDT

Current Solutions for DDT

DDT is a very harmful pesticide that endangers all types of life. Rachel Carson published a book in 1962 called Silent Springs that investigated the negative effects of DDT (PAN, 2013). After the publishing, her claims were investigated, which were found to be true. Then the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States issued a cancellation order for DDT to be banned in 1972 (PAN, 2013). The U.S. followed many other countries in the banning of the pesticide, such as Hungary, Norway and Sweden. Along with the U.S., Germany banned DDT in 1972. Today, people try to maintain this ban by regulating DDT usage (PAN, 2013). Even though there is a ban, DDT is still used throughout the world in countries, especially in Africa where it’s used to prevent malaria. However this is very controversial in the United States and the rest of the world because DDT helps limit malaria and pests, but without it, the disease and insects are more prevalent. The US hopes that eventually it, along with the rest of the world, will forever rid of DDT.

In this graph, you can see the dramatic decline in DDT usage once people found out it was very harmful to animal and human health.

Work Cited

Solutions for DDT: 

Pesticide Action Network: Advancing alternatives to pesticides worldwide. “The DDT Story.” Pesticide Action Network (PAN). http://www.panna.org/issues/persistent-poisons/the-ddt-story
James West. DDT. Polio Incidence and DDT Production in US 1940-1970. Accessed February 7^th, 2013. http://www.vaccinetruth.org/james_west_ddt.htm