DDT or Malaria -- Which is Worse?

Assassin bug wonders: "Although the topic of malaria has been discussed on Slashdot, DDT use has not. After having banned DDT (C14H9Cl5)" in 2004, Tanzania has reversed their ban on DDT use. What is the Slashdot community's opinion regarding the use of DDT for mosquito control versus genetically modified mosquitoes?" "Key facts to consider:

• Insects have developed resistance, for every tactic that has been used against them (including biological control, crop rotation, and various chemicals)
• Although the direct effects of DDT on humans might be benign, the effects on wildlife and the environment are well documented
• In some countries, such as India, popluations of DDT-resistant mosquitoes exist
• The fitness (i.e., reproductive success in the wild) of mutant mosquitoes is not well understood."

Comments

It's true

[Henry V .009]

The DDT necessary to save thousands of lives in the world's malarial hellholes is miniscule compared to that required for the crops of even a medium farm.

And DDT-hate on the part of international aid organizations (international aid is the entire health budget for some impoverished African countries) has led to countries refraining from using DDT.

Not using DDT kills poor Africans.

DDT is the cheapest, most effective way of protecting against the world's deadliest disease. Anti-malarial netting is somewhat effective, but simply does not compare to DDT.

Re:It's true

[AlexanderDitto]

Alright, so say they DO start using DDT in a more widespread fashion to kill off these mosquitos. Ignoring the possible environmental aspects (which, from what I'm now reading, are iffy in themselves), when does it stop? When will Africa be safe from these mosquitos, allowing them to stop using the DDT?

The answer is never. Unless ALL malaria is wiped out in ALL organisms around the world, DDT will have to be continously used FOREVER to prevent malaria from breaking out.

This will eventually stop working. Some mosquito will happen to have a mutation that makes it resistant, and suddenly the DDT no longer works. Now we have a group of people who have been exposed to a pestiside for long periods of time, as well as a group of bugs who are RESISTANT to a pesticide.

Where do we go from here? We need something better, something a little more advanced than Super Raid.

Re:It's true

[Lehk228]

if we don't do something about malaria right now even more REAL PEOPLE will die. yes it may be a long term harmful decision but we don't have the right to tell people they must die in order to protect birds and other animals.

Spiked-online = dodgy quote?!?

[wall0159]

Your quote says this:

"DeWitt reported no significant difference in egg hatching between birds fed DDT and birds not fed DDT"

and then, one sentance later, this:

"DeWitt's report that DDT-fed pheasants hatched about 50 percent more eggs than 'control' pheasants."

Now, I don't know who DeWitt is, and I don't claim to be knowledgable about DDT, but these sound like contradictory statements to me!

Maybe spiked-online and/or DeWitt have a vested interest in DDT...

either/or?

[mshurpik]

> DDT or Malaria -- Which is Worse?

I don't think it's a 1:1 comparison. Killing mosquitoes is analagous to killing terrorists...you don't stop them from breeding. A proper mosquito-control regimen involves maintaining healthy (warm summer) climate so dragonflies are healthy and eat the mosquito larvae the moment they pop out of the pond.

You should see a pond with dragonflies hovering...it looks like the Congratulations screen from a videogame. Each dragonfly takes a 10' radius, so a group of them has the whole pond on lockdown.