DDT has never been banned for vector control. It's been banned for agricultural use, but only after it was so overused that most agricultural pests had already become resistant to it.
The idea that there exists a worldwide ban on DDT for vector control, and that out-of-control malaria and "millions of dead humans" were the "real consequence" is a complete fantasy. And a rather disgusting one, as well.
Good point. I should add that some countries still use DDT for malaria control and any country that wishes to use it to fight malaria is free to do so, there is no treaty banning its use for malaria control.
However, many mosquito species are becoming resistant to DDT, so it is not really useful any longer. For example, India has greatly reduced the use of DDT because most of its malaria bearing mosquitoes are resistant to it.
DDT kills mosqito predators too and the mosquito predators are usually bigger more complex creatures with longer lifespans so it is much harder for them to evolve a resistance to DDT. Thus the idea that you could wipe out mosquitoes with DDT is ridiculous. Mosquitoes just evolve resistances to it. However, you could wipe out many bird species with it.
Particularly disturbing are the sites with comment sections where it's taken a step farther than this, resulting in one of the brain-diseased diatribes against 'liberals' and 'government'. Ignorance combined with absolute confidence is the dangerous hallmark of our political times.
Comments
DDT has never been banned for vector control. It's been banned for agricultural use, but only after it was so overused that most agricultural pests had already become resistant to it.
The idea that there exists a worldwide ban on DDT for vector control, and that out-of-control malaria and "millions of dead humans" were the "real consequence" is a complete fantasy. And a rather disgusting one, as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT
Good point. I should add that some countries still use DDT for malaria control and any country that wishes to use it to fight malaria is free to do so, there is no treaty banning its use for malaria control.
However, many mosquito species are becoming resistant to DDT, so it is not really useful any longer. For example, India has greatly reduced the use of DDT because most of its malaria bearing mosquitoes are resistant to it.
DDT kills mosqito predators too and the mosquito predators are usually bigger more complex creatures with longer lifespans so it is much harder for them to evolve a resistance to DDT. Thus the idea that you could wipe out mosquitoes with DDT is ridiculous. Mosquitoes just evolve resistances to it. However, you could wipe out many bird species with it.
Here is a good fact sheet on the issue:
http://www.ipen.org/ipenweb/documents/work%20documents/ddt_i...
Particularly disturbing are the sites with comment sections where it's taken a step farther than this, resulting in one of the brain-diseased diatribes against 'liberals' and 'government'. Ignorance combined with absolute confidence is the dangerous hallmark of our political times.