Gautam Mukunda wrote: > --- Warren Ockrassa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Because DDT thins birds' egg shells. The biggest >> reason bald eagles are >> endangered is DDT -- it thinned the birds' shells so >> drastically that >> many embryos never survived to full development. >> >> Is that a sufficient reason? > > Well, first, no, it's not a sufficient reason. Not at > all. But, second, it's _not even true_. Bald eagles > _aren't_ endangered. They're actually a _pest_ in > parts of Alaska, there are so many of them. DDT used > for malarial prevention - indoor spraying, daubing on > the walls of homes, and DDT -implanted mosquito nets - > doesn't even get out into the environment, much less > pose a threat. > [Snip contemporary info]
The problem with pre-ban DDT usage was that it was used indiscriminately, being sprayed from crop dusters and the like until it had a fairly constant presence in the enviroment. That *did* cause problems. The kind of uses Gautam proposes would have a miniscule impact while providing something of a moderate prophylactic effect for millions of people in malaria endemic areas. I would support this kind of discriminating use of DDT. DDT is one of the best pest control chemicals ever devised, but it does have a few effects that are negative. It did almost kill off our national symbol, but the Bald Eagle has bounced back pretty well. (I've even seen one here near Houston. Awesome sight.) Careful and specific use of DDT would probably not cause any damage we could not remedy. xponent Single Topic Post Maru rob _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
