Ddt Argumentative Essay
One of the most prevalent and controversial insecticides used in America was DDT, commonly used in America’s heartland until it was banned in the 1970s. It was used to decrease the widespread infection from malaria, typhus, and other insect-borne human disease but eventually caused worry and panic among American citizens with the publishing of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (EPA). On one hand, DDT causes a variety of environmental problems like the weakening of bird eggshells, a long appearance in soil, and can seep into groundwater, affecting both humans, animals, and ecosystems alike. On the other hand, it is effective in killing of the deadly diseases that still kill hundreds in Third-World countries today. I believe that, regardless of the negative effects of DDT, it should be used to actively combat the life-threatening diseases that plague some countries today. However, it
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should be regulated shortly after the prevalence of these diseases decrease dramatically or end altogether.
The first concern with DDT is its consistency with staying in the environment.
DDT tends to have a half-life of 75 years, making it extremely stable in the ground or water it penetrates (prosandcons). As it accumulates in the environment, it continues to build up in animals and may make its way up and into the food chain, poisoning every level and eventually making its way to humans (Kenney). Because of its “persistence and solubility in fats”, it is very hard to get rid of in a biotic sense (“Using DDT”). It had appeared in birds in the form of effecting the eggshells, making then thinner and ultimately unable to sustain the helpless chick inside. In humans, it was found to have negative effects on human reproductive organs, like breastfeeding, early miscarriages, and lower semen quality. Another worrying factor was its ability to become immune to, like most chemicals and immunizations; resistance to DDT was first recognized in Italy, when house flies were not dying. Overall, it was easy to use but hard to get rid of once established in the biotic and abiotic factors of an
environment.
On the contrary, DDT is very effective in destroying the life-threatening diseases carried by mosquitos. While the mosquitos do not actually have the disease, they carry little parasites which hold the viruses that infect so many people. DDT works by disrupting the mosquito’s nervous system, ultimately infecting the parasite that it is carrying (Kenney). DDT is also very easy to manufacture and able to widely be used in large areas; it’s very effective in reaching far areas and killing large amounts of mosquitos (prosandcons). Because it is so easy to manufacture, America still produces it and exports it to this day (“DDT”). Even the World Health Organization pushes for its limited use in infected countries to end the diseases.
I personally believe DDT should be used to fight the diseases plaguing mosquito-ridden countries; malaria alone killed over 430 thousand people last year, most of whom were living in Third-World countries (“10 Facts”). Despite the long-term effects on the environment that could potentially happen, the lives of nearly 3.2 billion people are at risk and could easily be prevented by the use of this simple pesticide. Even the WHO pushes for its controlled use. However, I do believe that, once the spread of these diseases are under control, restricted use should be put into place so as to not put environments in potential danger.
should be regulated shortly after the prevalence of these diseases decrease dramatically or end altogether.
The first concern with DDT is its consistency with staying in the environment.
DDT tends to have a half-life of 75 years, making it extremely stable in the ground or water it penetrates (prosandcons). As it accumulates in the environment, it continues to build up in animals and may make its way up and into the food chain, poisoning every level and eventually making its way to humans (Kenney). Because of its “persistence and solubility in fats”, it is very hard to get rid of in a biotic sense (“Using DDT”). It had appeared in birds in the form of effecting the eggshells, making then thinner and ultimately unable to sustain the helpless chick inside. In humans, it was found to have negative effects on human reproductive organs, like breastfeeding, early miscarriages, and lower semen quality. Another worrying factor was its ability to become immune to, like most chemicals and immunizations; resistance to DDT was first recognized in Italy, when house flies were not dying. Overall, it was easy to use but hard to get rid of once established in the biotic and abiotic factors of an
environment.
On the contrary, DDT is very effective in destroying the life-threatening diseases carried by mosquitos. While the mosquitos do not actually have the disease, they carry little parasites which hold the viruses that infect so many people. DDT works by disrupting the mosquito’s nervous system, ultimately infecting the parasite that it is carrying (Kenney). DDT is also very easy to manufacture and able to widely be used in large areas; it’s very effective in reaching far areas and killing large amounts of mosquitos (prosandcons). Because it is so easy to manufacture, America still produces it and exports it to this day (“DDT”). Even the World Health Organization pushes for its limited use in infected countries to end the diseases.
I personally believe DDT should be used to fight the diseases plaguing mosquito-ridden countries; malaria alone killed over 430 thousand people last year, most of whom were living in Third-World countries (“10 Facts”). Despite the long-term effects on the environment that could potentially happen, the lives of nearly 3.2 billion people are at risk and could easily be prevented by the use of this simple pesticide. Even the WHO pushes for its controlled use. However, I do believe that, once the spread of these diseases are under control, restricted use should be put into place so as to not put environments in potential danger.