| DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane) is | | | | the bird. |
| one pesticide that has been unquestionably | | | | |
| labeled hazardous to our health. It has been | | | | The same bird also eats a fish from a nearby |
| linked to cancer and is actually banned from | | | | creek; one that contains runoff from the |
| all use in America now. | | | | farmer's crops, and unfortunately DDT. Now |
| | | | all the DDT from the fish is also stored |
| DDT was widely used in the 1960's. It's | | | | within the bird. The bird is caught and eaten |
| all-time peak came in 1963 when 61 million | | | | by a female human. All the DDT from the |
| pounds of DDT were sprayed across the U.S. | | | | plant, the rodent, bird and fish is stored in |
| The first major opposition to the spraying of | | | | her fatty tissue. The woman has a baby and |
| DDT came with Rachel Carson's well-known | | | | one of the mother's first gifts to it is a |
| book, "Silent Spring" in 1962. By 1968, many | | | | portion of her DDT. Throughout the son or |
| states had decided to ban the use of the | | | | daughter's life, even more DDT will |
| pesticide. By 1972, the government had banned | | | | accumulate as he or she continues to ingest |
| all use of it in the U.S. | | | | contaminated foods. Since it is a carcinogen, |
| | | | the individual may have a greater chance of |
| Today, the U.S. does not produce or supply | | | | developing cancer. |
| DDT. Other regions of the world like Africa, | | | | |
| Central and South America still spray DDT and | | | | Remember, DDT is extremely persistent so even |
| compounds derived from it to help control | | | | though we don't spray it now, it was sprayed |
| diseases spread by insects, such as malaria. | | | | all over the country for about three decades |
| Since some of our food is imported from | | | | and is definitely still around. |
| countries still using the pesticide, the FDA | | | | |
| monitors imported foods for traces of DDT and | | | | DDT is not the only pesticide that causes |
| other hazardous substances. | | | | problems. Several others are made from |
| | | | compounds that are derived from it and are |
| Just what's so bad about DDT? | | | | known to be carcinogic as well. Examples of |
| | | | these are malathion and diazinon. Both are |
| If a farmer sprays DDT on his crops, | | | | highly toxic. Fortunately, they break down |
| eventually, a rodent eats one of the DDT | | | | very quickly in the environment to form |
| covered plants. The DDT is then stored in the | | | | nontoxic compounds. Carbamates are another |
| fatty tissues of the rodent. Maybe a bird | | | | group of pesticides which are presumably |
| catches and eats the rodent. The DDT comes | | | | not-carcinogenic, but still pose dangers to |
| with the package and is stored in the fat of | | | | our health. |