Why was DDT banned in the United States?

Answer 1

Yeah what they said, also Mexico uses some DDT's.
And we eat the stuff.
Why can we manufacture it but we can't use it... thats what I'd like to know.

Answer 2

Rachael Carson in her book Silent Spring created a big hub, hub about DDT, which was largely used at that time to kill malaria carrying mosquitoes. Many things were falsely blamed on DDT simply because when consumed in massive doses it caused some abnormalities in test animals.

As a result of the ban, malaria, which was becoming under control at the time of the ban, surged. As a result millions of people have died in third world countries.

The early fears that DDT causes environmental damage have been largely proved false. Furthermore, DDT is benign to animals (including people) when used in proper dosages to fight mosquitoes. However, like so many things today, politics rule, DDT is still banned and millions will continue to die of malaria as a result.

Be careful of what you wish for!

Answer 3

In 1962, American biologist Rachel Carson published the book Silent Spring, which alleged that DDT caused cancer and harmed bird reproduction by thinning egg shells. This followed the principles of biological magnification, killing higher level organisms like the birds. The book resulted in a large public outcry which eventually led to the insecticide being banned for agricultural use in the USA, and was one of the signature events in the birth of the environmental movement. DDT was subsequently banned for agricultural use worldwide, but its use in disease vector control continues to this day in some parts of the world.

Answer 4

DDT almost made bald eagles go extinct because their eggs would break before hatching due to the chemicals being in the bird's system from eating fish. It's a good thing it's banned.

Answer 5

Pick up a copy of "The Silent Spring" if you're really interested.

Answer 6

banned everywhere it was totally poisonous and caused illnesses in people and abnormalities in birth