World Health Organization approves use of DDT

[xarir]

Nearly thirty years after phasing out the widespread use of indoor spraying with DDT and other insecticides to control malaria, the World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that this intervention will once again play a major role in its efforts to fight the disease. WHO is now recommending the use of indoor residual spraying (IRS) not only in epidemic areas but also in areas with constant and high malaria transmission, including throughout Africa.


http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr50/en/index.html

 

[pussylicker]

I can remember them aerial spraying DDT in Muskoka, around the resorts to "protect" the vacationers from mousquitos. Nauseating smell.

 

[Coach]

Jake the Snake Roberts used it every week.

 

[Scarey]

lolol my thoughts exactly.Funny how pop culture references from your childhood stick with you for life.Everytime I see DDT i automatically think of Jake the Snake.However; on the original subject,DDT does have some very valid uses to fighting diseases.Cheers

 

[Cobster]

So the insects and other things will eventually develop an immunity to the shit and then what? Nice bandaid.

 

[kumamake]

sorry, but who is jake the snake?

~kacy

a professional wrestler
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_The_Snake_Roberts

 

[pussylicker]

So the insects and other things will eventually develop an immunity to the shit and then what? Nice bandaid.

No, not in Muskoka. They sprayed and it killed a large enough chunk of the mousquito pop, to take part of the natural food chain away, dragonfly and bird pops were reduced, frog pops were reduced or mutations developed, and still haven't recovered. It's not the whole reason, but a big part of it. I was exposed almost on a daily basis in the summer, and got severe headaches. Parents had to move, as we lived really close to one of the areas being sprayed. I saw the planes several times a day.

 

[Cobster]

No, not in Muskoka. They sprayed and it killed a large enough chunk of the mousquito pop, to take part of the natural food chain away, dragonfly and bird pops were reduced, frog pops were reduced or mutations developed, and still haven't recovered.

GEEE, that's nice. Now they're approving this crap again, lovely...

 

[xarir]

GEEE, that's nice. Now they're approving this crap again, lovely...

I think they're only advocating indoor use and not the kind of indiscriminate outdoor use that was prevalent in the 1950s & 1960s.

In any case, the approval is interesting to say the least.

 

[xarir]

didnt it cause birth defects ect?

No direct evidence of this. What indiscriminate use of DDT did do was adversely affect bird populations in the wild as well as fish and other aquatic life. DDT basically inhibits calcium absorption which leads to thin egg shells.

In humans there is no direct evidence that DDT is harmful but there are indications that it's not a good thing either. Having said that, most (man-made) chemicals are not all that good for human consumption.

 

[1hornychinaman]

Well, it's generally regarded as a cheaper and more effective way of controlling malaria plus it worked in North America. Even after the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation injected a crapload of cash into a Malaria Vaccine, they're still an estimated 10-15 years away from a drug trial. And since malaria alone kills 1 million ppl a year, that's 10-15 million dead africans.
Its really only pathogenic to birds, mammals are safe since there's no documented evidence that it kills ppl. It's a catch 22. Do you try to save ppl now knowing you're hurting the environment, or let those ppl die knowing that they're environment is safe.

I don't envy the UN.

 

[Cobster]

Save the environment I say.
Way too many people in the world and we're all just shitting on it as it is.
Why speed up the process?

 

[ruck]

sorry, but who is jake the snake?

~kacy

Wow. LOL
Knowing Jake the Snake really dates us guys. LOL
Damien's Dinner Time. LOL