Lorna
I am no expert on the topic, but see much work on the key role of DDT in
controlling mosquitoes - and they are still reckoned to be Africa's biggest
killer - though Aids is now going to overtake that figure (if it hasn't
already done so).
The modern way of using DDT is not to spray it onto the ground - especially
wetland areas - indiscriminately. Rather it is now sprayed on the outside
walls of dwellings (especially the more informal structures common in
African villages), and mainly near the top of the wall under the roof. This
then targets the mosquitoes which habitually rest in these places. Hence
its use is highly targetted.
To put the issue in some form of perspective (from an African standpoint) -
if we were talking about combating AIDS, would anyone deny the use of DDT
which is proven effective in reducing the incidence of mosquitoes (and hence
malaria)? We must weigh the consequences, and most people put human lives
(hundreds of thousands per year) above environmental damage - when it is
possible to minimise it through careful application of DDT.
Giles
----------------------
Giles Mulholland
Director: Operational Support
Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Johannesburg, South Africa
E-mail:
Web site: http://www.gautengleg.gov.za
Tel: +27 (11) 498-5902
Fax: +27 (11) 498-5720
-----Original Message-----
From: lorna bloom
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2002 11:52 PM
To:
Subject: DDT
What is the latest thinking of the use of DDT?
I have been in correspondence with someone living in Africa, who says people
over reacted to this pesticide and that it's a crime it has been banned. He
reckons it should be reintroduced to third world countries.
Here are some of his arguments:
Introduced in 1945, DDT's instant success led to a Nobel Prize for the
scientist who discovered the pesticide's effectiveness. DDT is estimated by
the World Health Organisation to have saved some 50 million lives. The
pesticide essentially wiped out malaria in America and Europe.
The benefit to poor nations was also enormous. For instance, after the
introduction of DDT, malaria diminished dramatically in India, Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh
Unfortunately, the pesticide was also used indiscriminately for agriculture.
Although there is no persuasive scientific evidence that DDT harms humans,
it did reduce the population of raptors and songbirds. Rachel Carson's
Silent Spring helped generate pressure on the Environmental Protection
Agency to ban DDT in the United States in 1972, despite the lack of evidence
that it harms humans.
Lorna Bloom.
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