Is there a DDT controversy?

[DevaMajka]

When I was visiting my parents, they brought up that DDT should never have been banned, and that because it was banned a whole lot more people died than would have if we'd kept using it.

I thought it was common knowledge that DDT was bad. I didn't say anything, because I don't really know much about it at all. Are they right?

(Sorry if this isn't a good place for this- it was the best place I could think of)

[crl]

Pretty much just guessing here: has there been a rise in malaria (not in the US, but other places) because the mosquito population has gone back up now that DDT isn't available?

Editing to add like to wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT

[Calidris]

Not too knowledgeable here, but I think one of the dangerous things about DDT was the way it bio-accumulates, and that it takes a long time to break down.

And of course it was really bad for the Bald Eagle (and other top predators).

wikipedia article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT

[crl]

Read a tiny bit more from my google search and I'd guess their argument is the malaria thing:

http://www.aaenvironment.com/DDT.htm

From the wiki link though I think the counterargument would be (1) it is still allowed for mosquito control to prevent malaria and (2) mosquitoes were acquiring resistance to DDT even before the ban so the ban has probably prolonged the usefulness of DDT for malaria control purposes.

I'm not a scientist though. Maybe someone has better data or arguments on this. . . .

[DevaMajka]

The malaria thing must be what they're talking about. I read the wiki article, and saw that it said that DDT was still allowed in some cases...I guess they (my parents) don't know the whole story either lol

[QueenOfTheMeadow]

DDT is the reasont that eagles became endangered. It built up in their systems and made their eggs so weak that when they sat on them, they broke. Also mosquitoes became resistant to it. Fish died when it got into the water.

http://www.chem.duke.edu/~jds/cruise...est/ddtup.html
http://www.epa.gov/pbt/pubs/ddt.htm

THis article talks about why it would be useful in some countries. Unfortunately, it could be a short term relief due to the fact that, just like bacteria can become resistant, mosquitoes can become resistant to ddt.

http://www.aaenvironment.com/DDT.htm