PESTICIDES: CRITICAL CASE: THE UNITED STATES

During the 1940’s, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, otherwise known as “DDT”, was created as one of the first of the modern synthetic insecticides. Not only was the substance highly effective in combating malaria, typhus, and the other insect-borne human diseases amongst both military and civilian populations, but it was also efficient in controlling insect populations in fields, and gardens. Due to its abilities, DDT quickly gained popularity all over the United States. However, this changed following the publication of the book, “Silent Spring”, in the year of 1962. The author, Rachel Carson, exposed how DDT impacted the food chain by threatening bird and fish populations, and could eventually cause illnesses in children. A few years later, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the production of DDT, as a result of its adverse environmental effects, and the potential it had to cause harm to human health.