Why is DDT soooo bad? It's just the environment.?

Answer 1

Well, it does have *some* use. But wide spraying of it is dangerous as it enters the food chain. It was wiping out birds in the 60s and 70s and if you do that, well you have an ecological imbalance that is disastrous. (And that does not count the effect it may have on humans directly.)

Now in high mosquito areas, it can be used to do *some* good -- although you only want to spray locally and not widely over crops. (And even then, you get DDT resistant mosquito's quickly enough, so it is only a temporary measure.)

Answer 2

What do you mean "It's just the environment"? It's the only environment we've got. DDT is exceedingly stable, and so accumulates in organisms and concentrates at higher levels of the food chain. In birds, DDT leads to fragile egg shells which lead to decreases in the populations of a number of different bird species, particualrly hawks and eagles.

Answer 3

It's just the fact that it doesn't break down in the environment and that it causes birth defects and cancer. It's just the fact that it kills birds that are important predators in the ecosystem which in turn ensure the health of fisheries.

Environmentlaism is ultimately about protecting ourselves from our own stupidity. Dumping a carcinogen that doesn't break down into our waterways is pretty damn stupid.

Answer 4

I don't think The Aquabats would appreciate you asking this question with their logo as an avatar. What kind of cadet are you? :( Stay cool homey, don't hurt the environment.