Should Ddt Be Banned Essay

I am a firm believer that DDT and other pesticides should be banned worldwide to prevent contamination of our environment and foods. DDT was a commonly used as a pesticide for insect control in the United States until it was canceled in 1972 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (1). Even though DDT is banned in the United States it continues to be manufactured, but it can only be sold to, or used by, foreign countries. In the U.S. the only exceptions for DDT use are for public health emergencies involving insect diseases and control of body lice. This is a problem because we are still affected negatively by DDT to this day. I believe DDT should be banned worldwide because of its health issues for humans and also the environmental issues it causes.

One reason I …show more content…
These pesticides can contaminate soil, water, turf, and other vegetation. In addition to killing insects or weeds, pesticides can be toxic to a host of other organisms including birds, fish, beneficial insects, and non-target plants (3). Pesticides affect every living organism mainly because of the food chain. If a predator eats another mammal that has high amount of DDT or pesticides in them can kill the predator. Surface water contamination also has an impact on the environmental side of DDT. Pesticides can reach surface water through runoff from treated plants and soil. Which can then kill the fish and organisms in the water. DDT affects various systems in aquatic animals including the heart and brain (2).

In conclusion, I believe DDT should be banned worldwide because of its health issues for humans and also the environmental issues it causes. Yes, DDT help prevent malaria, particularly in Africa. But it comes with too many negative effects on the human body and to the environment. DDT and other pesticides are very harmful worldwide and I feel we can produce safer alternatives that are healthier for our planet we live