[bjcintennessee]

I am not a fan of environmental extremists, and perhaps this article is correct in concluding that hundreds of thousands in third world countries have died because DDT is no longer used. On the other hand, how many people did not contract life-threatening diseases due to exposure to DDT.

My premise is a simple one. My grand-daughter brought home lice from her day-care facility, which resulted in an intensive internet search of current treatments. Permethrin, the active ingredient in the most popular lice products, has been indicated in causing leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases.

So while there appears to be a direct link between the prohibition of DDT and mosquito spread-diseases, how can we determine how many lives were spared because the general population was not exposed to a chemical that could lead to other types of life-threatening diseases?

[toenail]

500 MILLION. Primarily children under five-years-old. [Almost universally Black, but that goes without saying, of course.]

There's an excellent essay linked on my profile page to www.fightingmalaria.org.

[XBob]

the CDC doesn't want to solve the problem. Mosquitoes don't bite me. I spent hours on the phone with the CDC trying to get someone to sample my blood to find out why, and couldn't get anyone interested.

[B4Ranch]

In order for the child to get leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases she would probably have to inhale Permethrin for a full day.

Just about any chemical is safe if used properly.

[hopespringseternal]

On the other hand, how many people did not contract life-threatening diseases due to exposure to DDT.

Which ones? Has a link been proven?

That is the problem. The eco-weenies go all postal on these issue on assumptions. They get their ban, the issue dies for a while. In the meantime, it is not studied.

Then it might be made legal once people realize there is no real evidence against it. But what if there is a problem? The eco-weenies effectively shut down research, setting back the study of any potential problems by decades.

On the other hand, the eco-weenies push garbage like MTBE with no thought at all to the problems.

These people are simply not useful when it comes to these kinds of problems.

[Home By Dark]

DDT is one of the cheapest, safest, most reliable pesticides ever created. Millions of lives were saved by its use, and millions of lives have been lost and millions more made miserable because of its banning.

The replacements for DDT are not only more expensive, but dangerous to people and animals. I was poisoned on the job once by a sloppy exterminator who was spraying without making sure the building was clear. This was not a pleasant experience. Humans can EAT DDT and have no ill effects, by comparison.

I think it's high time to bring back DDT.