Screamer Films

The Birds (1963)

DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane) is a pesticide which undoubtedly has been labeled dangerous for our health. It has been associated with cancer and is actually prohibited use in all America. DDT was widely used in the 1960's. It's all-time peak came in 1963 when 61 million pounds of DDT was sprayed in the U.S.

The first major opposition to the spraying with DDT was Rachel Carson's well known book "Silent Spring" in 1962. In 1968 many countries had decided to ban the use of the pesticide. In 1972 the government had banned all use in the U.S. Today, the U.S. does not produce or supply DDT. Other regions of the world such as Africa, Central and South America still spray DDT and compounds derived from the control diseases spread by insects, like malaria. Since some of our food is imported from countries still using the pesticide, the FDA monitors imported foods for traces of DDT and other hazardous substances.

Just what's so bad about DDT? If a farmer sprays DDT on his crops, eventually, a rodent eats one of the DDT in plants. The DDT is then stored in the fatty tissues of the rodent. Maybe a bird caught and eats the rodent. The DDT comes with the package and is stored in the fat of the bird.

The same bird also eats a fish from a nearby creek, one that contains runoff crops of the farmer, and unfortunately DDT. Now all the DDT from the fish is also stored in the bird. The bird is caught and eaten by a female human. All DDT from the plant, rodents, birds and fish is stored in its fat. The woman has a baby and one of the first gifts of the mother is a part of her DDT. Throughout the son or daughter life, even more DDT will accumulate as he or she continues to contaminated food. Because it is a carcinogen, the individual a greater chance of developing cancer.

Remember, DDT is extremely persistent so even though we do not spray it, it was sprayed over the country about three decades and is definitely still around.

DDT is not the only pesticide problems. Several others are made of compounds derived from and is known to carcinogic too. Examples include malathion and diazinon. Both are highly toxic. Luckily they break very quickly in the environment are non-toxic compounds. Carbamates are another group of pesticides which are presumably non-carcinogenic, but still pose dangers to our health.

About the Author:

Lisa Ginger is a molecular biologist specializing in cancer research. Please take the time to review more cancer prevention articles at…

Cancer Prevention Report
— Our health is our most precious asset.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Dangers of Pesticides

Trailer – The Birds (1963)

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