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List:       computerguys-l
Subject:    Re: DDT: was:Re: [CGUYS] The disappearance of bees...
From:       Paul Meyer <pauljmey () YAHOO ! COM>
Date:       2007-04-25 2:37:15
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Not so simple. DDT is cheaper, it is in the public domain
but the idea that it is the best alternative largely depends
(as is the case with most pesticides) on a controlled use
to prevent resistance, there are countries where malaria
rate increased even with DDT in use and the resistance
to it in insect was noticed years before the US ban.
Also the other issue that muddies the waters is that
the issue in developing countries is as much about agricultural
use with malaria suppression quite possibly a red herring.

Agricultural use has lots of money issues involved so
its not clear who is on the up and up. But more the point,
it is the widespread agricultural use that has the most problems
associated and the most likely to lead to widespread resistance,
loss of biodiversity (which in turn worsens insect problems).
IMHO, this controversy appears to really be about  countries that want a cheap
short-term shot in the arm for their agri-business.

Again DDT was never banned though since 2001 the international
environmental treaties have strived to attempt a ban on all
persistent pesticides IN agriculture, there has always been a
public health exemption for DDT.

The fact that seeds, patented pesticides and other high-tech agricultural
inputs are onerously expensive for 3rd world farmers is nothing new, but
DDT is probably not the white knight it is made out to be.



mike <xhavok@GMAIL.COM> wrote: \
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/african-nations-lift-ddt-ban-to-fight-malaria/2006/05/30/1148956344979.html


Not according to that article...says DDT is looking at a comeback because
it's the best defense against malaria.

Mike

On 4/23/07, Paul Meyer
 wrote:
> 
> Actually, the Wikipedia article specifically says that there was never an
> international ban per se and that DDT has always been available for
> mosquito
> control in the developing world.  It was withdrawn voluntarily in many
> places
> because mosquitoes developed  resistance and hence
> loss it effectiveness.  The idea
> that a DDT ban caused an a malarial surge in the third world appears
> to somewhere between an urban myth and political disinformation.
> 
> Tom Piwowar  wrote: >DDT isn't banned any more, at least for
> anti-mosquito efforts.  You can buy
> > insect repellant now that has DDT in it.
> 
> Isn't that DEET in the insect repellant? As a suspected carcinogen DDT
> would not be a good thing to smear on one's body. DDT is banned in N
> America and mostly banned internationally according to Wikipedia.
> 
> 
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