DDT Should it be used?

[Michaelangelica]

An interesting report on the ABC Catalyst science programme tonight.
It seems most DDE ends up in cold climates like Antarctica and is found in Krill.
The levels in whales who eat a lot of Krill is 17 times higher.

Catalyst
8:00pm Thursday, 16 Oct 2008 Education CC G
Website

CHEMICAL WHALES

Paradoxically, the polar regions are not as pristine as we like to think.
What should be the cleanest places on earth are accumulating a nasty residue of toxic pollution from the rest of the world.
Dr Susan Bengtson-Nash started looking for more than a hundred long-lived chemicals in Antarctica, like DDT, dioxins, and PCBs (persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to establish what impact they are having on the environment.
Tiny shrimp-like krill swarming in their billions are the basis of the Antarctic food chain, and every other animal depends directly or indirectly on the krill, which makes them an obvious choice to analyse for their chemical content.
Krill is the exclusive diet of humpback whales, and they swallow them by the tonne before they set off on a ten-thousand kilometre journey north to their Australian breeding grounds.
This year, Susan is waiting for them, ready to take a sample of their blubber to discover how much chemical contamination they're getting with their diet.
In the middle of the humpback highway off North Stradbroke Island, Catalyst's Mark Horstman joins the whale hunters in a scientific adventure, following the trail of the very toxic, from the quite small to the incredibly huge.

You should be able to download the video tomorrow and for the next four weeks or so.at
Catalyst - ABC TV

[Michaelangelica]

An interesting report on the ABC Catalyst science programme tonight.
It seems most DDE ends up in cold climates like Antarctica and is found in Krill.
The levels in whales who eat a lot of Krill is 17 times higher.

Catalyst
8:00pm Thursday, 16 Oct 2008 Education CC G
Website

CHEMICAL WHALES

Paradoxically, the polar regions are not as pristine as we like to think.
What should be the cleanest places on earth are accumulating a nasty residue of toxic pollution from the rest of the world.
Dr Susan Bengtson-Nash started looking for more than a hundred long-lived chemicals in Antarctica, like DDT, dioxins, and PCBs (persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to establish what impact they are having on the environment.
Tiny shrimp-like krill swarming in their billions are the basis of the Antarctic food chain, and every other animal depends directly or indirectly on the krill, which makes them an obvious choice to analyse for their chemical content.
Krill is the exclusive diet of humpback whales, and they swallow them by the tonne before they set off on a ten-thousand kilometre journey north to their Australian breeding grounds.
This year, Susan is waiting for them, ready to take a sample of their blubber to discover how much chemical contamination they're getting with their diet.
In the middle of the humpback highway off North Stradbroke Island, Catalyst's Mark Horstman joins the whale hunters in a scientific adventure, following the trail of the very toxic, from the quite small to the incredibly huge.

You should be able to download the video tomorrow and for the next four weeks or so.at
Catalyst - ABC TV

[Theory5]

DDT was horrible. It distroyed many food-chains and killled many animals. It should not be used to fight anything. I dont think I really need to tell you guys that. But I think with DDT the cons outweight the pro. They should try something else, like amping up those mosquito things that repel them with sound. Could protect small towns or something.

gahh they changed the title! This is why you should never leave your computer unguarded while on a forum in school! (could an admin change it back plz?)

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by Theory5

DDT was horrible. It distroyed many food-chains and killled many animals. It should not be used to fight anything. I dont think I really need to tell you guys that. But I think with DDT the cons outweight the pro. They should try something else, like amping up those mosquito things that repel them with sound. Could protect small towns or something.

DDT is the most benign of the group of chemicals called "chlorinated hydrocarbons" historically DDT was one of the first used.
These chemicals have very long half lives and bio-accumulate; especially in the fatty tissue of mammals.
The report I posted was from Antarctica and specifically on DDE (What DDT "breaks down" into).
It will be interesting to see their future research on the dozens?, hundreds? of other Chlorinated Hydrocarbons that are being accumulated at the poles.

Most of the world (China, India, Africa) now uses DDT.

Look forward to another Silent Spring
Rachel Carson will be turning over in her grave.

[Michaelangelica]

This is some good news for the environment.
Now we just need away of getting it out of the fatty tissues of mammels

Biotechnology breaks down toxic waste
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Environmental Biotechnology CRC

Australian scientists have discovered a new technology that can easily break down recalcitrant chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHC) on-site. Most CHCs are highly toxic products or by-products of chemical reactions and are associated with some well known environmental problems.

“Our technology is based on the use of granulated activated carbon which together with a common solvent and an electron enhancer helps hydrogen turn a CHC into a hydrocarbon and salt, thereby converting a harmful compound into harmless ones”, said Dr David Garman, Executive Director of Environmental Biotechnology CRC (EBCRC)
. . . .

“There is an increasing awareness of the detrimental effects of CHCs on human health as well as the environment at large. Our technology will definitely contribute towards a cleaner and healthier environment”, Dr Garman concluded.

CHCs represent a large group of synthetic chemical compounds whose physical and chemical properties give them a broad range of applications such as pesticides and dry cleaning solvents.
CHCs have a number of negative health effects: they have been shown to be highly carcinogenic and hepatotoxic.
Due to the highly stable nature of the carbon-chlorine bond, CHCs are very resistant to normal biological degradation. Consequently, these compounds are environmentally persistent and because of their lipid solubility, multiply through the food chain.

Biotechnology breaks down toxic waste*(ScienceAlert)
Biotechnology breaks down toxic waste*(ScienceAlert)

[Michaelangelica]

Safe Malaria Solutions - Beyond DDT

Exposure to DDT is especially dangerous to developing infants and children.
Sound scientific evidence shows low levels of exposure in the womb can reduce babies' birth weight, cause developmental delays in children, interfere with a mother's ability to breast feed, increase risk of miscarriage, and cause reproductive problems.

DDT has been linked to low sperm count in men and labeled a possible cancer causing chemical by international agencies. Some studies show a link to breast cancer.

DDT contamination begins from the moment of its production. Residents of Eloor, India are protesting the contamination of their homes, environment and drinking water by a dirty DDT production facility.

Safe Malaria Solutions - Beyond DDT | Pesticide Action Network North America

[Michaelangelica]

An article in New Scientist reports that UN distributed mosquito nets are being used for everything but.

They are used for fishing nets, drying fruit, weeding dresses.

Did you want DDT with that. . . fish?

[sallynewell]

As for thalilomide, when I was twenty I spent some time helping a very brave boy who had flipper arms, and triangular feet (effectively two big toes with the bone pointing in on both sides) and wrote poetry from a big heart... please no more thalilomide...

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by sallynewell

As for thalilomide, when I was twenty I spent some time helping a very brave boy who had flipper arms, and triangular feet (effectively two big toes with the bone pointing in on both sides) and wrote poetry from a big heart... please no more thalilomide...

Yes and I wonder how many "new chemicals" we are now using will turn out with DDT or Thalidomide tales?
Some, like Glyphosate we are using by the meaga tonne.
China’s annual production capacity is estimated at between 500,000 tonnes and 600,000
That will pale into insignificance once Glyphosate resistant crops come on line.

Thalidomide is being prescribed again in South America and causing malformed Children.